Intercept

Key Challenges

• Without reliable participation and engagement data, libraries are unable to maximize strategic improvements for their programming. First and foremost, Richland needed an events management system to collect actionable data.
• To be successful, any viable new product would need a full suite of event management features. Beyond engagement tracking, Richland needed single sign-on, library card scanning, simple authoring, templates, the ability to clone events, room and equipment reservations and more.
• Different libraries use different Integrated Library Systems (ILS). The new product would have to be flexible, able to integrate with a broad and growing ecosystem of library databases.

Key Solutions

• Customer engagement and participation tracking is built into the core of Intercept.
• Built as a decoupled (aka “headless”) web application with Drupal 8, Intercept is a complete events management system. It offers robust authoring tools, single sign-on, event templates, library-card scanning, room reservations and more.
• Intercept uses a “pluggable” backend. Library programmers can add plugins for integration with their chosen ILS.

Two User Journeys

We established two user journeys immediately: library customers and library staff. Because we know that two separate user journeys can often become a struggle in prioritization, we utilized surveys for key audiences and developed specific user stories. Using that data, we simplified Intercept to make the experience intuitive and easy to navigate while still being a powerful tool for scheduling and evaluating event programming.

Designing Intercept as a Product

Intercept needed to be designed as an open-source product that would compliment Richland Library’s branding but also look universal enough to fit seamlessly into various organization’s styles. We created a product that can easily feature organization’s logos and can be customized to further match styles and branding.

ILS Integrations

Knowing that most libraries use an Integrated Library System (ILS) to catalog library materials and track usage, we prioritized allowing a variety of ILS integrations. Intercept was designed with Polaris in mind, but also provides the capability for integrations with other leading ILS – like ExLibris's Alma and SirsiDynix's Symphony.

Modular Packaging

It became our mission to architect Intercept so it could work with libraries large and small. Utilizing Polaris, Drupal 8, and Github, we built Intercept as a Drupal product, or distribution, with multiple sub-modules for events, room reservations, locations, equipment reservations, etc. Libraries can choose the specific parts of Intercept that they need.

Easily Scan In Customers

To save time for library staff at events, customers can scan in to events using their library card with a custom barcode scanner that we built. We also included a “customer lookup” in case patrons forget their cards or don’t know their number or username.

More of What You Love

To develop a recommendations engine, we created an algorithm that examines several different aspects of each customer’s experience. Customers have the option to set preferences – favorite locations, event types and audience groups they are interested in – which are all customizable by the library. When they save, attend or rate an event, the algorithm takes this into account in order to give them better recommendations for future programming.

Take The Data With You

Programming and tracking data is directly downloadable in a CSV format. It’s easily integrated with systems like Orange Boy or Tableau, but also accessible to be used in any data analysis system. Libraries can choose the format that works best for them.