Representatives from Mackay Regional Council Libraries and Whitsunday Regional Council Libraries attended the event, which was held at the Flexispace within Mackay’s Gordon White Library. Isaac Regional Council Libraries were also invited, but were unable to attend due to illness. Long-standing technology partners Aurora Information Technology (now part of Softlink IC) and FE Technologies also joined the session. The group came together to share insights, provide system feedback, and align on future priorities.
Focusing on What Matters
Crescendo was more than a catch-up. It was a structured forum designed to connect system development with real-world library needs. Using a panel-based Q&A format, discussions centred on boosting efficiency, sharing resources across councils, and making better use of software, hardware, and collections.
“Events like Crescendo are highly valuable,” said Sarah Thompson, General Manager at Softlink IC. “It’s not about showcasing technology for the sake of it. It’s about listening. Hearing where libraries want to go, understanding the roadblocks, and making sure our solutions evolve to meet those goals.”
Sarah was joined by Jacob Devine from Softlink IC’s Technical Services team, and Esada Plecic from FE Technologies. The panel was chaired by Shannon de Silva, Coordinator of Collections, Programs and Systems at Mackay Regional Council Libraries.
Image above, left to right: Esada Plecic (FE Technologies), Shannon de Silva (Coordinator of Collections, Programs and Systems at Mackay Regional Council Libraries.), Sara Thompson (General Manager, Softlink IC) and Jacob Devine (Technical Services).
Shared Systems, Shared Goals
Some libraries across the Greater Whitsunday Alliance use both Aurora Montage, Aurora Astria Desktop and FE Technologies. That shared system foundation opens the door for collaborative development and better coordination across local government areas. Key topics raised included:
- Tools to support shared programming and collection management
- Improving discovery across hybrid collections
- Boosting staff efficiency in multi-site environments
- Strengthening integration between software and hardware platforms
By combining vendor insights with on-the-ground experience, the event offered a practical way to together shape what’s possible.
Looking Ahead
Agenda items were submitted in advance, allowing for targeted, thoughtful discussion. Submissions from those unable to attend were also welcomed, ensuring broad input across the network.
A key theme from the day was the shared challenge of doing more with less, finding ways to stretch resources, minimise staff burden, and extend services beyond the library into the wider community.
The day reinforced what’s possible when libraries and their technology partners work together with a shared goal: to deliver stronger services, smarter systems, and better outcomes for their communities.