Grove for Libraries announces contributions to the Aspen 26.03 release, introducing a wide range of updates focused on accessibility, improved discovery, and enhanced patron engagement. This release reflects Grove’s ongoing commitment to community-driven development, with many enhancements sponsored and shaped by library partners across the Aspen community.
Notifications and Sorting for Saved Searches
Patrons can now opt in to email notifications when new titles are added to the library that match their saved searches. This brings the experience in line with existing notifications in LiDA. Additional sorting options have also been added, making it easier for users to manage and revisit their saved searches.
Improved Format Handling for Children’s Materials
In collaboration with the Aspen Cataloger’s Group, Grove implemented updates to better represent materials for younger audiences. Tonie and Yoto formats now incorporate data from the MARC 246 field alongside the 245, and the Picture Book format has been refined using the 650a and 655a fields. These enhancements help patrons more easily identify content appropriate for children.
Accessibility and User Experience Improvements
This release includes several updates designed to improve accessibility and usability across Aspen Discovery and LiDA. Enhancements include improved right-to-left language support, including for languages such as Arabic, expanded options for adjusting LiDA button colors to improve contrast, and the ability for screen readers to skip over book cover images. Together, these updates support a more inclusive and seamless user experience.
These highlights represent just a portion of the more than 60 contributions Grove developers made to the Aspen 26.03 release.
Learn More
You can see demonstrations of all of the key 26.03 features in the Aspen Inside Scoop Video on Grove's YouTube Channel.
Full 26.03 release notes are available at https://demo.groveforlibraries.com/Admin/ReleaseNotes?release=26.03.00
We’d like to thank the following partners for sponsoring development from Grove for Aspen 26.03:
- CLEVNET Library Cooperation
- Gail Borden Public Library
- Hoopla
- Milwaukee County Federated Library System (MCFLS)
- Nashville Public Library
- Orange County Library System
- SHARE
- SWAN Library Services
- Wyoming State Library (WYLD)
