Technology Assessment
Evergreen ILS Software
Evergreen is “homegrown” open-source integrated library system software created by the Georgia Public Library Services and first launched in 2006. It’s highly-scalable software for library by libraries. This software helps libraries manage, catalog, and circulate materials on any scare for library patrons to find library materials. Evergreen licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), version 2. Evergreen is a “homegrown” Integrated Library Software that was created by library for libraries.
Cost
Evergreen Logo 2010
Evergreen is free to download, free to use, free to view, free to modify, and free to share. By using the system, the library automatically becomes part of a massive library consortium of academic, school, special and public libraries. Since Evergreen ILS system is free, libraries can spend the money on training and/or support packages and perhaps hiring staff to maintain the system. Libraries would save a great amount of money by using an Opensource ILS system such as Evergreen. Evergreen ILS software offers Circulation, Cataloging, Online public access catalog (OPAC), Statistical Reporting, SIP 2.0 support, and search and retrieve via URL and Z39.50 servers.
Much of the support, training, installation, and migration come from Evergreen’s community of users at no cost. Evergreen has a strong and growing developer community dedicated to its health and long-term sustainability. Some libraries contract with a company that offers Evergreen support, development, migration and other services for a fee.
Much of the support, training, installation, and migration come from Evergreen’s community of users at no cost. Evergreen has a strong and growing developer community dedicated to its health and long-term sustainability. Some libraries contract with a company that offers Evergreen support, development, migration and other services for a fee.
Support
One of Evergreen's Support Blogs
Equinox Software is a contract companies.
Evergreen is owned and developed by the library community. This software is powered for information-sharing and openness. You can maintain Evergreen software yourself by using the development community for assistance. Evergreen provides support in Blogs, emails, mailing lists, documentation, chat, newsletters, as well as information sharing for technical support. Many libraries have been successful on their own, and maintain their own installations. However, there are companies that advertise Evergreen services for a fee. Some libraries are fully hosted by commercial companies. Other libraries perform their own data migration and then contract with a company for support. Evergreen lists five companies that provide services specifically for Evergreen. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and does not necessarily mean that they are endorsed by
Evergreen.
Here are the companies Evergreen provides.
Alpha-G http://www.alphagconsulting.com/
ByWater Solutions http://bywatersolutions.com/
Coffee/Code Consulting http://coffeecode.net/
Equinox Software http://esilibrary.com/esi/
PTFS Europe http://www.ptfs-europe.com/
For an example of such a company; Equinox Software unites the designers and developers of open-source ILS software. Equinox software employs core developers from both the Evergreen and Koha ILS projects. They provide full support services, migration and deployment, system hosting –ASP, custom development and training. There is no price listing for packages and services on their website. Each library has different needs, and prices are based on per-incident or comprehensive package.
The Equinox Support services deliver:
Evergreens community is well supported and provides many types of avenues for support to help in all areas of the software. The Evergreen community is dedicated to support its libraries. However, there are recommendations to contract with companies that provide services to help customize and maintain the software for a fee.
Evergreen.
Here are the companies Evergreen provides.
Alpha-G http://www.alphagconsulting.com/
ByWater Solutions http://bywatersolutions.com/
Coffee/Code Consulting http://coffeecode.net/
Equinox Software http://esilibrary.com/esi/
PTFS Europe http://www.ptfs-europe.com/
For an example of such a company; Equinox Software unites the designers and developers of open-source ILS software. Equinox software employs core developers from both the Evergreen and Koha ILS projects. They provide full support services, migration and deployment, system hosting –ASP, custom development and training. There is no price listing for packages and services on their website. Each library has different needs, and prices are based on per-incident or comprehensive package.
The Equinox Support services deliver:
- Assurance that help is an email or phone call away
- Responsive and knowledgeable technical support staff, including the developers of Evergreen and Koha
- Everything you need to know, from general inquiries to advanced, in-depth technical infrastructure support
- Intimate knowledge of library data standards and practices
- Extensive experience migrating legacy ILS data
- The expertise of the experienced Evergreen and Koha migration teams
- The most knowledgeable Evergreen and Koha trainers available
- 100% Uptime upstream service level agreements
- Hardened, secure facility
- Top-tier clustered, redundant servers
- World class application and network monitoring
- Backup and Disaster Recovery services
- Engineering staff on-site
- Dedicated planning and development resources for your specific needs
- Fast-track integration of local requirements as full ILS features
- The full design and development expertise of the original Evergreen authors and experienced Koha developers
- Training on all modules of Evergreen and Koha after installation
- Ongoing training for veteran employees and new hires
- Guided tours of new modules and functionality
- Continuing informal training after formal training has occurred
Evergreens community is well supported and provides many types of avenues for support to help in all areas of the software. The Evergreen community is dedicated to support its libraries. However, there are recommendations to contract with companies that provide services to help customize and maintain the software for a fee.
Usability
The College of the Rockies Catalog
Evergreen ILS Opensource software is used by over 550 academic, school, special, and public libraries around the world. Evergreen is “homegrown,” created by libraries for libraries. The software is similar and based on those of the expansive vendor ILS systems. If a staff member is use to using an integrated library system, then the staff will have an easier time operating Evergreen’s ILS system. There is an immense amount of support and avenues of information to help with issues, errors and problems. The size of the library and the technical skills of staff will determine how long it would take to migrate to Evergreen.
On the patron’s side, “Staff developed an interface based on the engine of popular open source web browser Firefox, designing it from the ground up to meet the needs of the users” (Weber, 2006). Evergreen’s public catalog is what the developers set out to conquer; to provide a user friendly interface “modeling interfaces users are comfortable with like Google and Amazon” (Weber, 2006). One of Evergreen’s characteristics is the spell-checking with suggested alternates. It even has “features faceted browsing by subjects, authors and series to find related books easily from the title you’re currently viewing, as well as conveniently grouping carious editions and formats of the same title together” (Weber, 2006). Evergreen enables tight integration for enriching content such as book covers, tables of content, and reviews to give the users good organization and a familiar look and feel. Over all the system seem to satisfy staff clients and patrons and is definitely memorable.
On the patron’s side, “Staff developed an interface based on the engine of popular open source web browser Firefox, designing it from the ground up to meet the needs of the users” (Weber, 2006). Evergreen’s public catalog is what the developers set out to conquer; to provide a user friendly interface “modeling interfaces users are comfortable with like Google and Amazon” (Weber, 2006). One of Evergreen’s characteristics is the spell-checking with suggested alternates. It even has “features faceted browsing by subjects, authors and series to find related books easily from the title you’re currently viewing, as well as conveniently grouping carious editions and formats of the same title together” (Weber, 2006). Evergreen enables tight integration for enriching content such as book covers, tables of content, and reviews to give the users good organization and a familiar look and feel. Over all the system seem to satisfy staff clients and patrons and is definitely memorable.
Features
Evergreen Demo Staff system
Since Evergreen is an open source ILS software, it allows each library to modify features to represent the needs for the particular library. Evergreen was designed from the ground up to provide the needs of a very large library lending consortium. This allows members to collaborate, but not locked to contracts and policies. Evergreen is able to handle large indexing and transition loads while supporting highly-configurable policies for each member library. The relationship and accounts with book vendors, enrichment vendors and other services in cooperation with Evergreen is easy to manage. Development priorities for Evergreen are that it be stable, robust, flexible, secure, and user-friendly.
Evergreen’s software provides high-quality services or modules for circulation, cataloging and discovery (public catalog and OPAC). Evergreen has a friendly staff client, a powerful reporting module, and fine tuned, highly flexible policy configuration.
Evergreen's features include:
For more information refer to:
Technical Features website
http://www.open-ils.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=faqs:evergreen_faq_2
Evergreen’s software provides high-quality services or modules for circulation, cataloging and discovery (public catalog and OPAC). Evergreen has a friendly staff client, a powerful reporting module, and fine tuned, highly flexible policy configuration.
Evergreen's features include:
- Circulation: for staff to check items in and out to patrons
- Cataloging: to add items to the library’s collection and input information, classifying and indexing those items.
- Online public access catalog (OPAC): a public catalog, or discovery interface, for patrons to find and request books, view their account information, and save book information in Evergreen "bookbags." The OPAC received a makeover in early 2009 with the new, optional skin, Craftsman.
- Statistical Reporting: flexible, powerful reporting for retrieval of any statistical information stored in the database.
- SIP 2.0 support: for interaction with computer management software, self-check machines, and other applications.
- Search/Retrieve_via_URL and Z39.50 servers
For more information refer to:
Technical Features website
http://www.open-ils.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=faqs:evergreen_faq_2
Conclusion
Evergreen is a “homegrown” Integrated Library Software that was created by library for libraries. It is free to download, free to use, free to view, free to modify, and free to share. Evergreen ILS software offers Circulation, Cataloging, Online public access catalog (OPAC), Statistical Reporting, SIP 2.0 support, and search and retrieve via URL and Z39.50 servers. The Evergreen software caters to public and academic, big and small. Its capabilities offer a simple software system similar to the expansive vendor software. This makes it easy for staff and the different departments communicate and manage materials. By using Evergreen, the library becomes part of a larger library consortium with other libraries. With all the libraries collaborating, it provides a huge support system to help with any issues, problems, and errors. Libraries even have the option to use other companies for custom support for a small fee. Evergreen is also user friendly for patrons by proving easy searching capabilities, faceted features, and a comfortable look and feel. Overall, this would be a great option for our library that doesn’t have the budget for expansive ILS software, but has staff that can handle technology challenges.
Resources
Equinox Software. (2010). Your library's guide to open source: Equinox software services. Retrieved from http://esilibrary.com/esi/services.php
Evergreen. (2010). About us home page. Retrieved from http://www.open-ils.org/about.php
Evergreen. (2010). Frequently asked questions page. Retrieved from http://www.open-ils.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=faqs:evergreen_faq_1
Evergreen. (2010). Frequently asked questions about evergreen's features and technical infrastructure page. Retrieved from http://www.open-ils.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=faqs:evergreen_faq_2
Weber, J. (2006). Evergreen: Your homegrown ils. Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6396354.html
