Coquitlam Public Library launches ChiliPAC in Polaris catalog

Coquitlam Public Library launches ChiliPAC in their Polaris catalog to expand functionality and usefulness for their community

Coquitlam Public Library (CPL) in cooperation with ChiliFresh Enterprises has enhanced their Polaris discovery platform with ChiliPAC, which provides readers with fully customized user profiles. With ChiliPAC integrated into the Library’s online catalog, library staff and customers have the ability to read and write book reviews, star rate items, create and curate their own booklists and bookshelves and share those lists with friends and other library users globally. With booklists and bookshelves fully integrated into the catalog’s search results, the catalog becomes an organic reader’s advisory where Library staff and customers share reading recommendations within their community and on a global scale.

Jay Peters, Manager, Marketing and Communications at Coquitlam Public Library: “We decided to launch a full ChiliPAC and transform our library’s catalog into a truly organic readers’ advisory experience. Since we launched in June, there are 247 booklists, created mainly by staff, and 31 bookshelves. Customers appreciate being able to get staff-generated booklists, as well as being able to create their own and submit ratings and reviews. Our staff is delighted to showcase their expertise and share their book recommendations and reviews with readers. We will continue to look for new and innovative solutions to help engage and inspire customers and staff.”

Scott Johnson, President and CEO of ChiliFresh says: “I am delighted that Coquitlam Public Library has chosen our ChiliPAC solution for their online catalog. CPL is a great example how libraries can stay close to their community in this era of information and sharing. The team at Coquitlam Public Library are continuously looking for innovative and creative solutions to engage their diverse community. The Chilifresh mission is to enhance the way people interact with libraries and to help libraries to continue to lead as the center of their community. It’s an honour to support Coquitlam Public Library as they continue to enrich, inspire and engage with their community.”

About Coquitlam Public Library:

Coquitlam Public Library is a growing library system in the northeast sector of Metro Vancouver. Its two branches and Library Bus serve a population of 139,284, including 60,734 active cardholders who contributed to 1,089,625 circulations in 2019. Established in 1976, it is funded with taxes raised in the community it serves as well as a Government of BC operating grant. Its Board consists of 10 members and its mission is “to engage its diverse community through creativity, discovery and knowledge.”

About ChiliFresh Enterprises, Inc.:

ChiliFresh Enterprises, Inc. (ChiliFresh.com) has been enhancing Library Catalogs around the world for more than 10 years. In 2008, ChiliFresh entered the library world with the Patron Review Engine. This was the first of its kind platform that empowered library patrons with the ability to read, write and star rate items in any library’s collection and have their review and rating appear in library catalogs all over the world. In 2012, ChiliFresh introduced Connections, a truly interactive platform connecting local readers with the global community at large, all based on literary interest and habits. And most recently in 2018, ChiliFresh formulated and launched the version 2 of Connections, rebranded as ChiliPAC. This exciting new platform works with a library’s existing catalog but integrates bookshelves and booklists directly into the search results, further connecting people on a global scale. www.chilifresh.com