Equinox Welcomes the Pennsylvania Integrated Library System to Aspen Discovery

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Atlanta, Ga., September 29, 2025: Equinox Open Library Initiative, a trusted leader in open source technology development and support for libraries, is excited to announce that the Pennsylvania Integrated Library System (PaILS) has selected Equinox to provide implementation, hosting, and support for Aspen Discovery. Equinox also provided project management, system configuration, and training for consortium members.

Aspen Discovery is a highly customizable, open source discovery layer designed to make library collections more accessible and engaging for patrons. Equinox’s Aspen Discovery services received the highest usability ranking according to the Library Technology Guides 2025 Library Perceptions Survey. The full survey is available on the Library Technology Guides website: https://librarytechnology.org/perceptions/2024/.

“PaILS is thrilled to be able to offer Aspen Discovery as an option for SPARK members,” said Katie Greenleaf Martin, Executive Director at the Pennsylvania Integrated Library System, “The improved discovery and access to the SPARK Library Discovery mobile app are wonderful tools! Equinox made the setup process simple, and we look forward to working with them as more clients include Aspen Discovery with their public catalogs.”

PaILS was founded in June 2011 as a non-profit organization to provide an open source integrated library system for Pennsylvania libraries. It oversees SPARK, the Evergreen ILS system managed by PaILS on behalf of its member libraries. PaILS will be presenting on Aspen Discovery for Evergreen Libraries at the upcoming Pennsylvania Library Association Conference on Monday, October 20, 2025. Full details are available from the conference schedule available here: https://www.palibraries.org/schedule/.

“Aspen Discovery excels at the consortial level,” said Rogan Hamby, Data and Project Manager at Equinox. “Its powerful search simplifies things for patrons and individual libraries within the consortium. We are excited that PaILS is joining the Aspen Discovery community.”

Follow Equinox Open Library Initiative on Bluesky @equinoxOLI.org, Facebook, and LinkedIn for the latest updates.

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For more information:
Laura Barry
Communications Coordinator
Equinox Open Library Initiative
EquinoxOLI.org
laura.barry@equinoxOLI.org
877.OPEN.ILS (877.673.6457)

About Equinox Open Library Initiative
Equinox Open Library Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is the successor to Equinox Software, Inc. Equinox’s mission as a nonprofit is to promote and support a thriving ecosystem for open source library communities in order to provide libraries worldwide with innovative open source solutions. Equinox is devoted to reducing barriers to library technology and services, expanding library access to open source software, and providing high quality technology, consulting, and support services. To learn more, please visit https://www.equinoxOLI.org.

About Aspen Discovery
Aspen Discovery is an open source discovery layer that powerfully gathers all of a library’s resources together into a single search. Aspen Discovery provides comprehensive access to the entirety of a library’s holdings, pulling in data from the ILS and licensed databases. For more information on Aspen Discovery: https://www.equinoxoli.org/products/aspen-discovery/.

About Evergreen
Evergreen Integrated Library System is an award winning and trusted library solution used by more than 1,800 libraries worldwide. Evergreen ILS is a web-based and mobile-friendly system which provides attractive, easy to use interfaces for library acquisitions, administration, cataloging, circulation, OPAC, reports, course reserves, and serials functionality.

Evergreen ILS is an enterprise level system designed to manage a scalable catalog shared across libraries, including large public and academic library consortia. While designed for large collections, Evergreen is suitable for libraries of any size and type from government to museum and special collection libraries. Its flexibility enables libraries to configure policies and settings that work best for their communities and to maintain ownership of their library and systems data.

For more information on Evergreen: https://www.equinoxoli.org/products/evergreen/.

Equinox Open Library Initiative Sponsors AspenCon 2025

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Atlanta, Ga., September 24, 2025: Equinox Open Library Initiative, a trusted leader in open source technology development and support for libraries, is pleased to announce that Equinox is sponsoring AspenCon 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee at the Innovators level. Galen Charlton, Implementation and IT Manager, and Rogan Hamby, Data and Project Manager, will be presenting at two separate sessions during the conference which will be held from October 8, 2025 through October 10, 2025.

Hamby will present, “Tree to Forest: Cultivating Aspen Discovery at Different Scales,” on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at 4:15pm CST. The discussion will cover Equinox’s experience implementing Aspen Discovery across a spectrum of libraries, from complex statewide consortia to single-location institutions. Participants will get an inside look at how libraries of varying sizes are utilizing Aspen Discovery.

Charlton’s workshop, “Building Branded LiDA,” will be held on October 9, 2025 at 3:15pm CST. This in depth workshop will cover how to build, distribute, and update branded LiDA for libraries. Specific topics to be covered include setting up a development environment, configuring design, and releasing the app.

“LiDA allows libraries to reach a wider audience through their smartphones,” said Galen Charlton, Implementation and IT Manager at Equinox. “The aim of this workshop is to prepare libraries to effectively manage their deployments of LiDA. We are excited to offer this opportunity to libraries attending AspenCon.”

AspenCon is an annual conference dedicated to the Aspen Discovery community. Registration is free and the three day long conference will include in person and virtual components. The full conference schedule can be found here: https://bit.ly/AspenCon25Schedule.

Follow Equinox Open Library Initiative on Bluesky @equinoxOLI.org, Facebook, and LinkedIn for the latest updates.

To receive news directly in your inbox: https://www.equinoxOLI.org/#signup

For more information:
Laura Barry
Communications Coordinator
Equinox Open Library Initiative
EquinoxOLI.org
laura.barry@equinoxOLI.org
877.OPEN.ILS (877.673.6457)

About Equinox Open Library Initiative
Equinox Open Library Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is the successor to Equinox Software, Inc. Equinox’s mission as a nonprofit is to promote and support a thriving ecosystem for open source library communities in order to provide libraries worldwide with innovative open source solutions. Equinox is devoted to reducing barriers to library technology and services, expanding library access to open source software, and providing high quality technology, consulting, and support services. To learn more, please visit https://www.equinoxOLI.org.

About Aspen Discovery
Aspen Discovery is an open source discovery layer that powerfully gathers all of a library’s resources together into a single search. Aspen Discovery provides comprehensive access to the entirety of a library’s holdings, pulling in data from the ILS and licensed databases. For more information on Aspen Discovery: https://www.equinoxoli.org/products/aspen-discovery/.

Equinox Announces 2025 Application for the Equinox Open Source Grant

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Atlanta, Ga., September 22, 2025: Equinox Open Library Initiative, a trusted leader in open source technology development and support for libraries, is pleased to announce that the 2025 application for the Equinox Open Source Grant will open on September 22, 2025. Applications will be accepted through November 14, 2025. Additional information is available at: https://bit.ly/EOSGrant.

Launched in 2019, the Equinox Open Source Grant provides implementation, training, hosting, and support services for Koha ILS to eligible libraries and institutions. The grant is offered to organizations with technological or financial challenges that make it difficult to obtain or maintain an integrated library system. The Equinox Open Source Grant is provided for an initial term of three years and can be renewed if the recipient continues to qualify for the grant. Information about Koha ILS and the offerings Equinox provides can be found here: https://www.equinoxoli.org/products/koha.

“We have seen firsthand how the previous grants have empowered the recipient libraries,” said Felicia Beaudry, Business Development Manager at Equinox. “Koha’s modern features and stability fostered community engagement, innovation, and facilitated the expansion of services where it was needed most. We look forward to seeing how future grantees use this resource in their communities.”

The success of the Equinox Open Source Grant has been documented through the responses of past recipients and published in Equinox’s 2024 Year in Review. To read the full article please see: https://bit.ly/EquinoxYIR2024.

Follow Equinox Open Library Initiative on @equinoxOLI.org, Bluesky, Facebook, and LinkedIn for the latest updates.

To receive news directly in your inbox: https://www.equinoxOLI.org/#signup

For more information:
Laura Barry
Communications Coordinator
Equinox Open Library Initiative
EquinoxOLI.org
laura.barry@equinoxOLI.org
877.OPEN.ILS (877.673.6457)

About Equinox Open Library Initiative
Equinox Open Library Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is the successor to Equinox Software, Inc. Equinox’s mission as a nonprofit is to promote and support a thriving ecosystem for open source library communities in order to provide libraries worldwide with innovative open source solutions. Equinox is devoted to reducing barriers to library technology and services, expanding library access to open source software, and providing high quality technology, consulting, and support services. To learn more, please visit https://www.equinoxOLI.org.

About Koha ILS
Created in 1999 by Katipo Communications for the Horowhenua Library Trust in New Zealand, Koha Integrated Library System is the first open source Integrated Library System to be used worldwide. For more information on Koha: https://www.equinoxoli.org/products/koha/.