FAQ

The Evergreen Integrated Library System [ILS] is a complex database program in which libraries may store patron, bibliographic, and item records and transaction records. The Evergreen ILS is available as an open source product. To find out more, please visit the Evergreen Project website.

The founding pilot libraries researched available open source clients and determined that the Evergreen ILS was the most compatible with the needs of participating libraries. For more information, please visit the Evergreen Indiana History page.

Anyone may use the Evergreen ILS software without joining a consortium. Evergreen Indiana offers members many other benefits in addition to sharing software and materials, including tech support, free staff trainings, access to millions of records, purchasing discounts, and much more! Check out the Member Resources page to discover all the additional perks of membership.

Since 2016, member libraries have been charged an annual fee based on a tiered system reflecting a percentage of their annual expenditure. Previously, fixed rates were adopted on an annual basis by the Executive Committee.  On February 14, 2023, the Executive Committee adopted a new membership fee structure proposed by a working group from among Evergreen Indiana member libraries using a tiered percentage of the evaluated annual operating expenditures of member libraries that adjusts automatically based on library expenditures.  The following table represents the tiered fee structure approved by the Council in June 2014, adapted by the working group, and adopted by the Executive Committee.  Funds are used to expand services and reduce reliance on grant funding. 

Annual Membership Fee Percentage Rates
The new percentage rate fees were rolled out in a graduated manner in 2024.  To view membership fees for existing and prospective members, follow this link.
Tier	Annual Fee Percentage Rate	Maximum Evaluated Annual Operating Expenditure
1	0.000% (0.000)	$50,000
2	0.700% (.007)	$300,000
3	0.725% (.00725)	$1,000,000
4	0.750% (.0075)	$5,000,000
5	0.800% (.008)	$10,000,000
6	1.000% (.01)	$50,000,000

Additional costs to the member library generally include hardware (see below for recommended hardware), staff time, additional INfoExpress deliveries (if needed; additional day subsidized for members), a broadband internet connection, and barcoding materials (library cards and item barcodes).

There are over 130 public, school, institutional, and special libraries active in the Evergreen Indiana consortium. For a complete list of member libraries, please visit the Member Libraries page.

Visit the Join Evergreen Indiana page to discover how to become a member library in Evergreen Indiana.

Evergreen Indiana’s customized client is available at https://evergreen.lib.in.us/eg/staff/.

Evergreen Indiana is currently running a customized version of Evergreen 3.11.2.

Evergreen Indiana has regularly scheduled buying pools to allow for the purchase of library cards from PSI Graphics at negotiated rates. Dates and order forms for these buying pools are located in the Evergreen Indiana calendar. Orders may be submitted outside of pool dates.  Library cards can be ordered using this form.

Barcode labels can be ordered from PSI Graphics at a negotiated rate at any time during the year using the order form provided here but will ship during the next buying pool.

In 2022, the EI Executive Committee voted to expand the definition of “Evergreen Indiana Library Card” to include library cards with appropriate consortial branding. Evergreen Indiana Library Card Standards can be viewed here. These standards provide guidance and necessary graphical elements when designing locally customized cards for your Evergreen Indiana member library.

Please note that locally customized cards are not eligible for negotiated rates from PSI Graphics and vendor relations are the responsibility of the library seeking to obtain customized cards.