Kirtland is working with Equinox Software, Inc., to install and implement Evergreen on the library’s local servers.  Michigan Evergreen staff Evette Atkin and Megan Dudek will train the Kirtland library staff on Evergreen OPAC, Circulation, Cataloging, and Admin modules in December 2009.

If your library is interested in migrating to Evergreen, please feel free to contact Michigan Evergreen staff – Ruth Dukelow, Evette Atkin, or Megan Dudek – for information on joining Michigan Evergreen’s shared catalog or for training options for locally-hosted installations.

The Michigan Library Consortium (MLC) is looking for a tech-savvy, problem-solving, adventurous librarian to join our Michigan Evergreen team. Michigan Evergreen is an open-source shared ILS project, with ten libraries in the shared system and more to be added in 2009-2010. This position is responsible for training and support of participating libraries on all ILS functionality (OPAC, circ, cataloging, etc.). For consideration, please submit a completed application form and your resume with salary requirements to MLC, Human Resources, 1407 Rensen Street, Suite 1, Lansing, MI  48910-3657. Position is open until filled, with applications received before July 17 given first consideration. Excellent benefits. For links to the complete position description/qualifications and to MLC’s application form, go to: http://mlcnet.org/cms/sitem.cfm/news__announcements/mejob_posting/

Booth demos are scheduled for:
Wednesday, 2pm-5pm
Thursday, 7:30am-12noon

Also, MLC and GRPL Evergreen staff will present a program at MLA on Thursday, 1:30pm-2:45pm, in Room Prairies V.

If you’re interested in learning about the Michigan Evergreen project, please stop by the booth or come to our program!

As with the first two migrations, there were some minor problems to correct on the first couple days, but for the most part, the transition went smoothly.  We’re lucky to be working with Equinox and GRPL who were standing ready to work with MLC staff to fix any migration problems fairly quickly.

For the Niles launch (like the Branch launch), we had Michigan Evergreen staff at the library and at MLC to handle troubleshooting on the first day.  I spent the day working at NDL’s circ desk, while Evette Atkin stayed back at the ranch to act as “command central,” fielding Nancy’s and my calls from the front lines.  I have to admit that it was really fun to spend the day working in a public library again.  For me, one of the most enjoyable parts of working on the MIchigan Evergreen project has been the opportunity to visit public libraries and experience the real world of library service.  We’re learning a lot during the pilot phase of this project, which is going to be helpful when we open up Michigan Evergreen to new libraries next year.

This is a pretty exciting time for MLC in the world of open source technology.  Michigan Evergreen, our shared open-source ILS,  has kept us busy the past several weeks training the pilot libraries and working with Equinox and GRPL on the migrations.  It has been a true challenge for us to work in a “no vendor” environment on this project, as it presents a new and different model for working with our member libraries.  Open source is changing the way we think and the way we work – a whole new world!

This Friday, MLC’s Annual Meeting, “Open Source, Open Libraries,” will feature LC’s Daniel Chudnov and representatives from the Michigan library community talking about open source in libraries. We just learned that registrations for the Annual Meeting have sold out (although the system will accept “waiting list” registrations through tomorrow).  Pretty cool to know that our members are as interested in open source as we are.

We have a great line-up for the “Open Source, Open Libraries” program, including keynote speaker Daniel Chudnov from the Library of Congress.

In addition to our keynote, members of the Michigan library community will highlight some of their favorite open source applications:
Terry Robertson and Steve Sowder, Andrews University, on Eprints, open source software for institutional repositories.
John Rucker, Branch District Library, on Dansguardian, open source filtering software
Mark Szidik, Michigan Library Consortium, on Mozilla Firefox and GiMP.
Bill Ott, Grand Rapids Public Library, on Open Office applications.

For further information and to register online, go to:
https://members.mlcnet.org/workshops/viewcourse.html?id=191

We’re excited about Mr. Chudnov keynoting our “Open Source, Open Libraries” program.  Among his many accomplishments, he started the oss4lib weblog and listserv in 1999 to promote open source software in libraries.

In addition to Mr. Chudnov, we have an impressive line-up of Michigan library staff talking about their successes using open source software.  Steve Sowder and Terry Robertson of Andrews University will present on their experiences with open source Eprints for their university’s digital repository.  John Rucker, Bill Ott, and Mark Szidik will highlight a few of their open source favorites for libraries.

For further information, see MLC’s News and Announcements.

“Congratulations to the staff at Branch District Library for taking the plunge and becoming the first public library in Michigan to migrate to Evergreen,” said Randy Dykhuis, MLC Executive Director. “We at MLC are very pleased to be involved in the project.” MLC staff Evette Atkin, Ruth Dukelow, and Elaine Ross worked with the Grand Rapids Public Library and with Equinox Software, Inc., to convert and migrate Branch District Library’s records to the new Michigan Evergreen shared catalog.

“W00T! Nothing exploded!” said Evette Atkin, Systems Librarian for the Michigan Evergreen project. “With the amazing staff at Branch District Library, Equinox, and Grand Rapids Public Library, the migration was a success, and every minor speed bump will aid us making each migration smoother.  Thank you so much to Branch District Library for being our first library to go live!”

John Rucker, the point person for the Michigan Evergreen migration at Branch District Library, said, “The level of service and responsiveness we have received from both Equinox and the staff at Michigan Library Consortium has far exceeded our expectations based on past experience with other vendors. There were a number little glitches to work out in the first couple of days and these were promptly resolved, sometimes in just minutes. We already knew that we and our patrons would be getting a superior library system, but it’s a pleasant surprise, indeed, to have this high level of customer service.”

In addition to migrations, MLC staff are responsible for providing training and support to the Michigan Evergreen libraries. “Training in Evergreen is proving to be a challenging experience, but I am pleased with its overall stability,” said Elaine Ross. “Trainees seem to learn very quickly and easily.”

After the pilot libraries have migrated this fall, the Michigan Evergreen project will be opened to other libraries who wish to join the shared catalog. To schedule a demo of Michigan Evergreen at your library, please contact 800-530-9019 Evette Atkin (ext. 152), Elaine Ross (ext. 153), or Ruth Dukelow (ext. 121). For ongoing information on the Michigan Evergreen project, see the Michigan Evergreen blog and the Michigan Libraries Wiki page.

This is an exciting step for us, because we’re now ready to start the real work of converting the pilot libraries’ data for migration to the Evergreen shared system (soon-to-be-installed on servers at Grand Rapids Public Library). Our MLC team has trips lined up in April and May to visit each pilot library to begin mapping out timelines. We hope to have the pilot libraries up on the system by mid-summer.