Michigan Evergreen

Happy Birthday, Michigan Evergreen! On August 4, 2008, our first pilot library, Branch District Library, went live on the shared open-source system. One year later Michigan Evergreen has much to celebrate, with ten forward-thinking libraries currently participating and more to migrate in 2010.The Michigan Evergreen shared catalog is open for additional libraries to join. We are now scheduling migrations for Spring 2010. To schedule a demo of Michigan Evergreen at your library, please contact Ruth Dukelow at MLC. For ongoing information on the Michigan Evergreen project, see the Michigan Libraries Wiki page.

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After our productive pilot meeting on the 4th of March, it was decided to post all enhancement requests received by MLC on the MLC Evergreen wiki.  You can find this list here.  Please feel free to add all enhancement requests here after sending them to develop-me@mlcnet.org.

On this page you will also find a “Wish List” for development that has not been formally requested by MLC via develop-me@mlcnet.org.

If you are interested in proceeding with any of the listed development requests please contact Evette Atkin.

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I’m pleased to announce that the first draft of the Michigan Evergreen User Manual is now available online for your review. [Thank you - Elaine - for your hard work in putting this together!] We’ve posted the draft document in Word format on the Wiki.

In it, you will find sections on OPAC searching, loading the Staff Client, Circulation, Cataloging, and Systems Administration. This manual is intended to be used as a handy, day-to-day reference for the Michigan Evergreen integrated library system, either as an online tool or in print format for desk use at circ, reference or cataloging. The print version is indexed for easy reference. [My thanks to Heather Thomas for her expertise in creating an index for the print version!]

We are asking Evergreen libraries to browse through the draft User Manual and to let us know if you see errors or missing information. Please email Elaine Ross (rosse@mlcnet.org) your comments and suggestions for additions and/or improvements by March 15, 2009. Based on your input, we will revise the User Manual and will post the final version on the Michigan Evergreen wiki by late March or early April.

We put this User Manual together for a number of reasons.
First, as we worked through the pilot phase of the Michigan Evergreen project, we discovered that not all Evergreen information was available in a single location.  We wanted to compile the basic information that our libraries need in one document for easy retrieval.
Secondly, when visiting our participating libraries – especially the smaller branches – we discovered that the circ desk workers were finding it easier to search for user information in their paper training materials (marked with post-its) than to try to search documentation online while patrons were lined up and waiting.  We wanted to give them an option that would allow them to have a printed User Manual in a binder at the circ desk, as well as online access.
Third, as we worked with the Evergreen system during the pilot phase, new enhancements and processes were developed that were not included in our original training materials, and we wanted to find a way to get that information to our participating libraries.

The folks at Equinox (ESI) are also in the process of developing a more comprehensive documentation tool for Evergreen using XML which will eventually replace our User Manual.  Think of our Word format User Manual as a stopgap effort until more usable online documentation is readily available. We are also encouraging other Evergreen shared systems to use material from our User Manual freely in their local documentation and to share their suggestions for improvements as well.

We’re looking forward to hearing your feedback! Thanks!

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The last four of our Michigan Evergreen pilot libraries – Traverse Area District Library, Fife Lake, Interlochen, and Peninsula Community Library – went live on Evergreen on Monday, November 10.  See Equinox’s press release for details.

We are still ironing out migration issues, including a slowness problem with checkout and checkin, but for the most part the migration went well, with patrons able to check out and return materials when the libraries opened on Monday morning.  Our Michigan Evergreen team at MLC and GRPL is working with Equinox and TADL staff to resolve outstanding issues.

Once the pilot libraries are fully functional on Evergreen, we will open up Michigan Evergreen to other libraries to join. Libraries interested in a demo or further details can contact me at dukelow@mlcnet.org.

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Congratulations to Director Nancy Studebaker and her staff at the Niles District Library (NDL)!  MLC is pleased to announce that NDL went live on Michigan Evergreen yesterday, joining other pilot libraries, Branch District Library and Grand Rapids Public Library. The final four Michigan Evergreen pilot libraries will go live in November: Traverse Area District Library and its affiliates, Interlochen Public Library, Fife Lake Public Library and Peninsula Community Library.

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.

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Congratulations to Grand Rapids Public Library (GRPL) Director Marcia Warner and her staff!  We at MLC are happy to announce that GRPL went live on Evergreen yesterday, joining Branch District Library in the Michigan Evergreen shared system. For details, see the article posted on Library Technology Guides.

We believe that GRPL – with 925,000 bib records and a population of 197,000 – might be the largest individual public library to adopt Evergreen as its ILS.  So much for the myth that open source ILS software is only for small libraries!  Plus, Equinox said that this migration was the easiest they’ve ever done, due mostly to the dedication and expertise of GRPL’s Bill Ott who maintains the Michigan Evergreen database and servers.  Thanks, Bill — we’re lucky to have you on board!

The next Michigan Evergreen pilot library to go live will be Niles District Library on October 6.  Stay tuned!

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We’re pleased to announce that the Oscoda County Library Board voted unanimously to join Michigan Evergreen in 2009.  A big welcome to Oscoda County Library Director, Amy Knepp, and her staff and Library Board!

After the completion of our pilot project this Fall, Michigan Evergreen will be open to other libraries to join. If you are interested in joining Michigan Evergreen, or in hosting an Evergreen demo at your library, please contact Ruth Dukelow (dukelow@mlcnet.org or 800-530-9019 x121) at MLC.

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Michigan Evergreen training will begin next week for Niles District Library (NDL).  MLC staff will be traveling to Niles every Thursday in September to train NDL staff on Evergreen OPAC, circulation, cataloging, and admin modules.  NDL’s scheduled “go live” date is October 6, one week after GRPL goes live on Michigan Evergreen.  September is going to be a busy month for NDL, GRPL and MLC!

In October, we’ll begin training Traverse Area District Library (TADL) staff, with a projected “go live” date in November.  Also in October, MLC and GRPL staff will present a Michigan Evergreen program at MLA’s Annual Conference in Kalamazoo.  If you’re at the MLA Conference and want to learn more about Michigan Evergreen, please come to our program on Thursday or stop by the MLC booth (#6-7) in the Exhibits.

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The Michigan Library Consortium (MLC) is thrilled to announce that Branch District Library is our first Michigan Evergreen library to migrate to the open-source Evergreen software. Their new catalog is part of Michigan Evergreen, Michigan’s open-source ILS project. Migrations for the remaining Michigan Evergreen pilot libraries are scheduled for this fall: Grand Rapids Public Library on September 29, Niles District Library on October 6, and Traverse Area District Library on November 10.

“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.

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The Grand Rapids Press posted an article today about the Grand Rapids Public Library’s switch to Evergreen, “Grand Rapids Library says new online catalog will be easier, but limit interaction with other libraries.”  The scheduled “go live” date for Grand Rapids is Monday, September 29.

Branch District Library is still on track to “go live” on Monday, August 4.  Evette Atkin of MLC, Bill Ott of GRPL, and John Rucker of Branch, along with the Equinox staff, will be hard at work this weekend to finalize the migration.  For a sneak peak at Branch’s new OPAC, see http://bdl.michiganevergreen.org

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