Coming soon to an Aspen site near you: Native events enhancements

Last updated on: 11th February 2026|11th February 2026 | Alexander Blanchard | Aspen Discovery

If you attended the most recent Aspen in Action, you may have already heard some buzz about what’s coming next for the Aspen events module. Behind the scenes, Open Fifth has been working on a series of exciting enhancements designed to make events more powerful, more visible, and easier to manage for both library staff and patrons.

This work is being led by Chloé Zermatten, Jacob O’Mara, and Alexander Blanchard, and represents a significant step forward in how libraries can promote events and engage with their communities through Aspen.

Driving engagement through events

A key motivation behind these enhancements is to increase engagement with both existing patrons and potential future patrons through library events. With some of the development sponsored by Sefton Library through funding from LibraryOn, the focus has been on helping libraries reach wider audiences while reducing duplication of effort.

As part of this work, events created in Aspen’s native ‘events’ module will be made available via an API, allowing them to be displayed directly on LibraryOn’s website. This means libraries can showcase their events in more places, improve discoverability, and promote what’s happening in their spaces – without needing to manage multiple systems.

Event registration: More control, better insights

One of the most impactful enhancements is the introduction of optional event registration. Staff will be able to require patrons to register in order to attend an event, unlocking several benefits:

  • A clear list of who is planning to attend
  • Better data collection around attendance and engagement
  • The ability to review participation in past events
  • Greater control over capacity and event logistics.

 

This functionality makes it easier for staff to plan events effectively while also gaining insights that can inform future programming.

Managing capacity with waiting lists

To support events with limited capacity, staff will now be able to set a maximum number of attendees. Once that limit is reached, they can choose to enable a waiting list.

If a registered patron cancels their place, the next person on the waiting list will automatically be notified that a space has become available. Patrons can receive these notifications:

  • Within their Aspen account
  • Via email, ensuring they don’t miss out

 

This creates a smoother, more responsive experience for patrons and reduces manual administration for staff.

Making event setup easier for staff

Alongside registration and waiting lists, several enhancements are focused on simplifying event creation and management. These include:

  • The ability to restrict events by patron category
  • The option to book sublocations directly while creating an event, reducing setup steps and helping avoid scheduling conflicts.

 

Together, these changes aim to make the Events module more intuitive and efficient for staff to use day to day.

What’s next for Aspen events?

Looking ahead, Open Fifth has identified several additional areas for potential future development. Some of these are currently seeking funding and library involvement to help shape how they are delivered – contact the Open Fifth team if you’d like to get involved. These ideas include:

  • Event check-in, allowing staff to mark attendees as present directly in Aspen
  • Additional notifications, such as reminders for upcoming events
  • Ticketing, enabling patrons to reserve one or multiple tickets
  • Payment support for paid events
  • Enhanced usage data and reporting to better understand event impact.

 

We’re looking forward to seeing how these enhancements help libraries better connect with their communities and we can’t wait to see the events you’ll create with them!