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Hello All,
Taking some time to reflect back on PLA in Minneapolis, I wanted to share a few takeaways from conversations I had throughout the conference. The tone across the exhibit hall felt very grounded in the day‑to‑day realities public libraries are navigating right now, with a lot of practical, honest discussion about what’s working and what’s still a challenge.
What I Heard: Satisfied Clients, Staffing Pressures, and the Patron Experience
I was delighted to hear from so many of our clients at PLA. Many of the conversations I had were with current clients of ours mentioning how our services are positively impacting their library and community. It was very heartening to hear that our products at Unique are making a difference for people, through automation, technology, and excellent service.
Staffing continues to be the biggest pressure point. Many libraries are still running lean, and staff are being asked to handle more with fewer hands. Because of that, there was strong interest in anything that reduces repetitive work and frees up staff time for higher‑value, patron‑facing activities.
Patron experience came up just as often. Libraries are focused on making core interactions easier, especially around account creation, renewals, and basic transactions. Reducing friction in these everyday processes was consistently described as one of the most effective ways to improve access and service without adding strain to staff.
Despite the challenges being discussed, the mood wasn’t pessimistic. Libraries came across as realistic, resilient, and focused on finding workable solutions. Equity, access, and community impact continue to guide decision‑making, and those themes showed up consistently in both sessions and informal conversations.
Technology Conversations at PLA
When technology came up, the focus was squarely on practicality. Libraries talked about modernization, but not in terms of experimentation or big system changes. Instead, there was a clear preference for tools that are stable, easy to manage, and work within existing ILS workflows. Anything that adds complexity or ongoing maintenance was generally met with hesitation.
AI was part of many conversations, but almost always with caution. There is curiosity, but also real concern around transparency, ethics, and how patron data is handled. Across the board, privacy remains a non‑negotiable and continues to be the lens through which new tools are evaluated.
How Unique Fits In
From our perspective, much of what was discussed at PLA closely reflects what libraries have been telling us all year. We recognize the pressure to do more with limited staff hours and flat budgets, and we’ve built our tools with that reality in mind.
Services like Automated Borrower Renewal and Verified Borrower Registration are designed to reduce manual processing while keeping staff involved where it matters most. Call handling helps relieve constant interruptions so staff can focus on more complex needs. Material Recovery also continues to help libraries recover real dollars while cutting down on patron hold times and unblocking patrons.
All of this is designed to work with existing systems and to prioritize patron privacy and data protection from the start. The goal isn’t to change how libraries operate, but to quietly take work off staff plates and make everyday processes smoother for both staff and patrons.
Closing Thoughts
PLA reinforced that libraries are dealing with real constraints, but they’re approaching them thoughtfully and with a strong sense of purpose. We appreciated the chance to listen, learn, and connect with so many of you in Minneapolis, and we’re grateful for the conversations we had along the way.
Our stickers were also hit! Librarians were excited to get their hands on some fun library-themed stickers. If you didn’t get any at PLA or just want some more, fill out this form and we will send your library some free stickers.
And as always, I am eager to hear from libraries! What is working for you? What challenges do you face? What would make your life easier? Connect with me at ESurber@uniquelibrary.com