SALINA — Polaris Library Systems, a Salina–based provider of automation software for public libraries, is under new ownership. Emeryville, Calif.–based Innovative Interfaces, Inc., a firm that also specializes in library technology, on April 1 announced it acquired Polaris on March 31. Neither side released terms of the acquisition in the Innovative Interfaces news release. The […]
SALINA — Polaris Library Systems, a Salina–based provider of automation software for public libraries, is under new ownership.
Emeryville, Calif.–based Innovative Interfaces, Inc., a firm that also specializes in library technology, on April 1 announced it acquired Polaris on March 31.
Neither side released terms of the acquisition in the Innovative Interfaces news release. The Central New York Business Journalrequested phone interviews with top officials from both Polaris and Innovative Interfaces, but did not hear back by press time.
The transaction represents the combination of two companies with “complementary strengths” that will allow us to “better serve” the technology needs of public libraries, Kim Massana, CEO of Innovative Interfaces, said in the release.
“We have appreciated and respected Polaris’s focus on service and support, especially to public libraries, and we look forward to combining two great service organizations and learning from each other,” Massana added.
Innovative Interfaces currently supports an installed base of more than 1,000 public-library systems, the company said. It employs about 450 staff in office locations around the globe. In addition to the Emeryville, Calif. headquarters and the Salina, N.Y. location, Innovative also operates international offices in Dublin, Ireland; Barcelona, Spain; and Noida, India, the company said.
Innovative Interfaces will retain Polaris’s current office to serve as one of Innovative’s centers of operations, along with the headquarters, Dublin, and Noida, India locations.
Polaris Library Systems on Jan. 2 announced it added 20 employees in 2013 to support a “significant” increase in customers. The firm, which is located at 103 Commerce Blvd. in Salina, now employs about 100 people, according to its website.
The firm added the new staff members in all departments, including customer support, product management, marketing, quality assurance, research and development, and administration, Polaris said in its Jan. 2 news release.
In 2013, 44 libraries selected the Polaris Integrated Library System, representing over 130 new locations adopting Polaris library software throughout the U.S. and Paris, France, the company added.
Bill Schickling, former president and CEO of Polaris Library Systems, will remain with Innovative Interfaces as vice president of public-library products. The remainder of the Polaris executive team will join the Innovative management group in “various roles,” the company said.
Polaris’ senior-leadership team, including Schickling, had been the company’s owners
“I am particularly proud of what we’ve accomplished here at Polaris over the past 11 years,” Schickling said in the news release. “We’re joining forces with Innovative because we think the combined company will provide Polaris customers with a long term partner for innovation and growth.”
The firm Gaylord Bros. developed Polaris, an integrated library system, in 1997. Polaris became a stand-alone company in 2003 when Gaylord Bros. sold the library furniture and supplies portion of the company to a competing firm, Madison, Wisc.–based Demco, Inc., according to the Polaris website.
In early 2010, Polaris employees arranged a management-led buyout of the company. The firm’s senior-leadership team, including Schickling, had been serving as the company’s owners, according to its site.
Polaris Library Systems generates annual revenue of about $18 million, according to the 2013 Business Journal 500 publication.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
