With the support of the Indiana State Library, a pilot project is attempting to implement the open source Evergreen ILS, working toward an opt-in, potentially statewide automation environment. Following many aspects of the model established by the Georgia Public Library System, a shared library automation system based on Evergreen will be offered to libraries throughout the state. Unlike GPLS, where the participating librarieswere already using a shared system, Indiana Evergreen will grow more gradually as the libraries in the state of Indiana currently run many different automation platforms. The proposed project offers considerable financial incentives to the libraries opting to participate. The costs involved in maintaining Indiana Evergreen will be paid by the Indiana State Library, including purchasing and maintaining the central servers, personnel costs in operating the system, training, software development, data conversion, and other related expenses. Libraries joining will pay no fee. The governance of the consortium will be developed by the member libraries.
The Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library in Zionsville, IN was the first to come online. This library serves a population of over 15,000 residents with a collection of 120,000 titles. The library migrated to Evergreen from a SirsiDynix Unicorn system.
The library contracted with Equinox Software for services related to the imple mentation of Evergreen. Equinox Software includes the original development team from GPLS and bases its business model on providing services surroundingthe Evergreen ILS.
An additional seventeen libraries are expected to transition to Indiana Evergreen by January 2009. Under the current expansion plan, additional libraries may join the Indiana Evergreen system in 2009 and thereafter.
For more information on Indiana Evergreen, see: http://www.in.gov/library/5592.htm.
