Updates Newsletter

Evergreen saves Indiana libraries millions through resource sharing

INDIANAPOLIS (May 7, 2010) – The Indiana State Library is the 65th Indiana library to go live on the Evergreen open-source integrated library system (ILS). The State Library is part of Evergreen Indiana, a growing consortium of 77 public, school and institutional libraries located throughout Indiana that use the Evergreen ILS. Sixty-four public libraries are already live on Evergreen and serve over 654,000 Indiana residents. Evergreen library software helps library users find library materials and help libraries manage, catalog, and circulate those materials.

The State Library added over 2 million items and 900,000 bibliographic records to the Evergreen Indiana catalog. The catalog now holds over 3 million bibliographic records and provides access to over 5.5 million items. While patrons of member libraries can use their Evergreen Indiana library card to view the catalogs and borrow materials from the other member libraries, State Library cardholders are not able to borrow materials from other member libraries. However, all other Evergreen Indiana members can view, place holds on items, and borrow from the State Library’s collection.

“Though the State Library’s holdings are available to all Indiana residents, we will be able to maximize the public’s exposure to our collection through our membership in Evergreen Indiana,” said Roberta L. Brooker, State Librarian of Indiana. “Also, because Evergreen is an open source product, the State will save tens of thousands of dollars annually in licensing fees from our current ILS vendor.”

The migration of the Indiana State Library’s catalog becomes the fifth administered solely and entirely by the State Library. The State Library has grown its team of Evergreen experts and now provides comprehensive Evergreen services, including migration, training, administration & hosting, software development and tech support.

The Evergreen Indiana Consortium has seen a steady rise in interest from all types of libraries around the state. The Consortium is accepting applications from libraries seeking to migrate to Evergreen. Requests for membership are approved by the Executive Committee at its regularly scheduled meetings. Libraries interested in joining the consortium must have board approval and submit a completed executed Membership Agreement and Code of Ethics. For more information visit Information and Resources for Interested Libraries or contact Catherine Lemmer at 317-234-6536, or clemmer@library.in.gov.

The potential savings for the taxpayer and the convenience for the library user is what attracted the staff at the Indiana State Library to pursue this as a viable initiative for Indiana public libraries. Evergreen Indiana collectively saves Indiana public libraries millions per year in licensing, training and maintenance costs from private ILS vendors.

“The Indiana library community needs to find viable ways to save tax dollars and this project will not only conserve scarce resources, but also enhance their ability to share resources with one another,” said Brooker. “Already, access to over 5 million items owned by Indiana libraries is just a click away for patrons of Evergreen libraries.”

View the State Library’s collections through its new Evergreen catalog at http://www.in.gov/library/catalog.htm

About Evergreen Indiana
Evergreen Indiana is a growing consortium of 77 public, school and institutional libraries located throughout Indiana that use the Evergreen ILS. Patrons of member libraries can use their Evergreen Indiana library card to view the catalogs and borrow materials from the other member libraries. The Evergreen Indiana project is funded by the Indiana State Library through Library Services and Technology Act grants. Evergreen was developed using open-source software by the Georgia Public Library Service. The enterprise-class library automation system helps library patrons find library materials, and helps libraries manage, catalog, and circulate those materials, no matter how large or complex the libraries.

About the Indiana State Library
The Indiana State Library was established in 1825 to provide library services to Indiana’s state governmental officials and employees. Since that time, the responsibilities of the State Library have expanded to provide services to all citizens of Indiana. Just as the Library of Congress serves as the historical repository for our nation, the State Library is responsible for collecting and preserving all types of information and data about the state of Indiana. Everyone is welcome to visit the State Library! Our professional staff is available to assist with research questions, offer expertise on a variety of subject matters including genealogy, and provide general guidance and information about materials in the Library’s collections.