Greetings, Polaris Community!
We hope your Fall is going smoothly and your pumpkin spice is strong. Here are this month’s
updates and discussions from the Polaris ILS Advisory Committee.
Known Issues Portal – Improvements on the Horizon
The committee inquired about a comprehensive list of current Known Issues to help identify and prioritize fixes. Clarivate shared that this information is currently available on Supportal, but the team is exploring ways to make it more easily searchable and exportable.
Ex Libris has implemented a Known Issues Portal, and Clarivate is looking to move toward
adopting a similar knowledge portal model. Information in the new system would be
automatically updated by internal systems, rather than through manual entries.
A request was also made to include date stamps, so users can see when an issue was last
added or updated. More details and an estimated timeline are expected to be shared at IUG
2026.
Polaris Release Beta Testing – What’s Still Happening?
There are currently no full-system beta tests for upcoming Polaris releases. Recruitment for
large-scale testing has proven difficult, and not every environment can be fully replicated.
However, feature-specific beta testing is still active; particularly for third-party integrations and functionality that Clarivate cannot replicate internally. If your library has interest in participating, it’s worth reaching out to your Clarivate contacts for potential opportunities.
Report Backups During Migration – Clarification Requested
Many libraries have noted being asked to back up custom reports as part of their migration
checklist. This requirement has been in place since at least 2022, but confusion remains about
why these backups are necessary and whether Clarivate could handle them.
At this time, libraries are still responsible for backing up their individual RDL files. Clarivate will
check with the Services Team to confirm what guidance is being provided and explore whether
clearer communication, or a potential workflow change, might be possible.
Supporting Libraries with B&T Order Transitions
As libraries begin to cancel Baker & Taylor orders and shift to new platforms, the committee
asked what Clarivate can do to support these transitions.
Clarivate noted that Acquisitions in Leap training will soon be set up, and they are currently
reaching out to gain a better understanding of the differences between third-party vendors. They also shared that they are putting together additional materials and guidance for users to help navigate these transitions.
Clarivate would like to hear from libraries who have experience working with different vendors
and are willing to share their insights with them. To help gather this feedback, PIAC will post a
call for comments on the IUG Discord, and libraries are encouraged to reply or share their
experiences there.
The committee also requested a webinar offering a broad overview of onboarding new vendors, which would be very timely and well-received.
Bulk Canceling Orders – Still No Simple Option
Currently, there is no built-in way to bulk cancel orders in Polaris. However, Clarivate
confirmed that a script could be developed to accomplish this if needed.
Amazon Punch-In/Out API Support
The committee inquired about Clarivate’s collaboration with Amazon to improve the acquisitions ordering process. Clarivate shared that they have been meeting regularly with Amazon to explore enhancements to library purchasing workflows, particularly those involving EDI ordering.
In addition, Brodart is currently in the process of integrating Amazon’s punch-in/out APIs, and
Clarivate will be meeting with Ingram to discuss that vendor’s progress. Updates will follow as
these partnerships evolve.
Libraries using Amazon for Business may also be interested to learn that Amazon now offers
brief MARC records for book purchases; more information is available in Amazon’s recent
blog post
Polaris 7.8 Documentation Update
Clarivate has republished the Polaris 7.8 documentation and What’s New in Polaris 7.8 to
include expanded details on the QZ Tray/Direct-to-Printer feature, a topic of interest from
previous meetings. You can find the updated information here: Leap Help – Set Direct to Printer Option for Receipts and Labels
That wraps up our October updates!
As always, thank you to everyone in the Polaris community for your ongoing feedback, insights, and collaboration.
Until next month! Stay curious, stay caffeinated, and may all your SQL queries run on the first
try.