Equinox Software and Evergreen News
June 24 2008
Houston Public Library Goes Live with Evergreen
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Norcross, GA – June 24, 2008
Houston Public Library of the British Columbia SITKA Consortium (formerly BC Pines Consortium) has followed Prince Rupert, Powell River, Fort Nelson, Terrace, and Whistler Public Libraries as the next facility to go live with Evergreen, the consortial-quality open-source library software.
Houston Public Library’s new online catalog can be viewed at http://houston.catalogue.bclibrary.ca. The migration of Houston Public Library is another step in a process that will see a total of 16 SITKA libraries transition to Evergreen in 2008. With the two pilot libraries from 2007, the SITKA consortium will have 18 systems running Evergreen at the end of 2008.
British Columbia is following a gradual approach to moving libraries over to Evergreen; libraries "opt-in" on their own schedule. Many are anticipated to join over the next several years when their existing automation vendor contracts expire.
The Houston Public Library was established in 1924 when Clara Davies, the wife of a local hotel keeper, and Rev. Allan Brayside began to collect and pool books for the residents of Houston to use. The public library association as it exists today was formed on November 19, 1964. In 1997, the library became automated allowing patrons access to the internet as well as the ability to search the catalogue and check books out on-line.
The SITKA OPAC is here: http://catalogue.bclibrary.ca . Watch it grow!
About Evergreen
Evergreen is enterprise-grade, open-source library system software. Evergreen was initially developed to support Georgia PINES, a consortium of over 275 public libraries.
While Evergreen has been designed from the ground up to meet the needs of very large, high-transaction, multi-site consortia, its robust, fault-tolerant architecture elegantly scales down to the smallest sites. Evergreen is also adaptive software that due to its service-oriented, standards-compliant design can nimbly evolve to meet changing library needs and user expectations.
From its first week, Evergreen has consistently outperformed expectations and resulted in acclaim and praise from users worldwide. Evergreen has received significant attention, including a Technology Collaboration Award and grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Additional Evergreen implementations include the SITKA consortium in British Columbia, Canada, and new implementations planned for the Michigan Library Consortium as well as libraries in Indiana.
For more information about Evergreen, please visit http://open-ils.org
About Equinox Software, Inc.
Founded by the original Evergreen designers and developers, Equinox Software is a growing team of skilled developers and other professionals who provide soup-to-nuts support for Evergreen, the consortial-quality, open-source Integrated Library System (ILS). Equinox develops, supports, trains, migrates, integrates, and consults on Evergreen, and engages with the rapidly-expanding Evergreen community. Instead of one-size-fits-all support, Equinox works closely with libraries to ensure Evergreen is implemented in the manner that best fits their individual needs. In addition to support, custom development and integration services, Equinox offers complete Evergreen hosting packages for libraries wishing to outsource their ILS infrastructure. Equinox also provides consulting services for libraries seeking more insight into the value proposition of open source software.
Press contact: Corinne Hall, corinne@esilibrary.com, 678-269-6113
For more information on Equinox Software, please visit http://www.esilibrary.com.
Evergreen is open source software, freely licensed under the GNU GPL. Evergreen and the Evergreen Logo are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of the Georgia Public Library Service.
June 23 2008
Marshall Public Library selects Evergreen and Equinox
Norcross, GA – June 23, 2008
Marshall Public Library in Marshall, Missouri has selected Evergreen, the open-source library software, for its next-generation Integrated Library System. Marshall has chosen Equinox's hosted Evergreen service, an ideal solution for resource-conscious libraries seeking professional, round-the-clock support for their library systems.
Amy Crump, Marshall’s Library Director, said, "We at the Marshall Public Library are very excited to join the growing number of libraries making the switch to the Evergreen open-source ILS. We are pleased to be working with Equinox to facilitate the migration as well as provide support for Evergreen and our library."
Brad LaJeunesse, President of Equinox, said, "Marshall Public will be the second library organization electing to use Equinox’s hosted Evergreen services. We see a strong trend in the industry in this regard, and we think it’s win-win. The library will have a highly stable ILS and its server will be housed in a stable, secure, and controlled environment. This makes our support services more effective and allows the library to focus on its core mission."
Marshall Missouri, located in the heart of the "Show-Me State," was named after statesman and jurist John Marshall and serves as the county seat of Saline County. Marshall Public Library has 30,000 bibliographic items and their annual circulation is around 55,000. They currently serve nearly 7,000 library users.
About Evergreen
Evergreen is enterprise-grade, open-source library system software. Evergreen was initially developed to support Georgia PINES, a consortium of over 275 public libraries.
While Evergreen has been designed from the ground up to meet the needs of very large, high-transaction, multi-site consortia, its robust, fault-tolerant architecture elegantly scales down to the smallest sites. Evergreen is also adaptive software that due to its service-oriented, standards-compliant design can nimbly evolve to meet changing library needs and user expectations.
From its first week, Evergreen has consistently outperformed expectations and resulted in acclaim and praise from users worldwide. Evergreen has received significant attention, including a Technology Collaboration Award and grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Additional Evergreen implementations include the SITKA consortium in British Columbia, Canada, and new implementations planned for the Michigan Library Consortium as well as libraries in Indiana.
For more information about Evergreen, please visit http://open-ils.org
About Equinox Software, Inc.
Founded by the original Evergreen designers and developers, Equinox Software is a growing team of skilled developers and other professionals who provide soup-to-nuts support for Evergreen, the consortial-quality, open-source Integrated Library System (ILS). Equinox develops, supports, trains, migrates, integrates, and consults on Evergreen, and engages with the rapidly-expanding Evergreen community. Instead of one-size-fits-all support, Equinox works closely with libraries to ensure Evergreen is implemented in the manner that best fits their individual needs.
In addition to support, custom development and integration services, Equinox offers complete Evergreen hosting packages for libraries wishing to outsource their ILS infrastructure. Equinox also provides consulting services for libraries seeking more insight into the value proposition of open source software.
Press contact: Corinne Hall, corinne@esilibrary.com, 678-269-6113
For more information on Equinox Software, please visit http://www.esilibrary.com.
Evergreen is open source software, freely licensed under the GNU GPL. Evergreen and the Evergreen Logo are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of the Georgia Public Library Service.
June 11 2008
Whistler Public Library Goes Live with Evergreen
Norcross, GA – June 11, 2008
Whistler Public Library of the British Columbia SITKA (formerly BC Pines) Consortium has followed Prince Rupert, Powell River, Fort Nelson, and Terrace Public Libraries as the next facility to go live with Evergreen, the consortial-quality open-source library software.
Whistler Public Library’s new online catalog can be viewed at http://whistler.catalogue.bclibrary.ca/. The migration was handled by a partnership between Alpha-G and Equinox Software, Inc. Alpha-G is an acknowledged expert in the legacy system and Equinox is the support and development company for Evergreen.
The migration of Whistler Public Library is another step in a process that will see a total of 15 SITKA libraries transition to Evergreen during 2008. Two more libraries, Mackenzie and Taylor Public Libraries, are scheduled for migrations in November 2008. When MacKenzie and Taylor go live, the SITKA consortium will have 18 systems running Evergreen.
British Columbia is following a gradual approach to moving libraries over to Evergreen; libraries “opt-in” on their own schedule. Many are anticipated to join over the next several years when their existing automation vendor contracts expire.
The SITKA OPAC is here: http://catalogue.bclibrary.ca. Watch it grow!
Whistler, British Columbia is a resort town in the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains and houses a permanent population of around 10,000 residents. 2 million visitors make their way to the area each year largely for the world famous skiing and mountain biking. Whistler will play an important role during the 2010 Winter Olympics when it hosts most of the alpine and sledding events. The Whistler Public Library has over 20,000 patrons and 40,000 bibliographic items. The library first opened its doors in 1986 when it was open four days a week for a total of 16 hours. In January of 2008, Whistler Public Library moved into a newly-built facility with 12,000 square feet of floor area.
About Evergreen
Evergreen is a consortial-quality, enterprise-grade, open-source integrated library system (ILS) initially created in 2006 to support Georgia PINES, a consortium of over 270 public libraries.
While Evergreen has been designed from the ground up to meet the needs of very large, high-transaction, multi-site consortia, its robust, fault-tolerant architecture elegantly scales down to the smallest sites. Evergreen is also adaptive software that due to its service-oriented, standards-compliant design can nimbly evolve to meet changing library needs and user expectations.
From its first week, Evergreen has consistently outperformed expectations and resulted in acclaim and praise from users worldwide.Evergreen has received significant attention, including a Technology Collaboration Award and grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Additional Evergreen implementations include a growing consortium in British Columbia, Canada, and new implementations planned for the Michigan Library Consortium as well as libraries in Indiana.
About Equinox Software, Inc.
Founded by the original Evergreen designers and developers, Equinox Software is a growing team of skilled developers and other professionals who provide soup-to-nuts support for Evergreen, the enterprise-grade, open-source Integrated Library System (ILS). Equinox develops, supports, trains, migrates, integrates, and consults on Evergreen, and engages with the rapidly-expanding Evergreen community. Instead of one-size-fits-all support, Equinox works closely with libraries to ensure Evergreen is implemented in the manner that best fits their individual needs.
In addition to support, custom development and integration services, Equinox offers complete Evergreen hosting packages for libraries wishing to outsource their ILS infrastructure needs. Equinox also provides consulting services for libraries seeking more insight into the value proposition of open source software.
About Alpha-G Consulting, LLC
Alpha-G Consulting has expertise in library automation, data migration, database programming and administration, and related technologies. Alpha-G puts its expertise to work to solve its clients’ most vexing library and computing problems. Founded in 2001, Alpha-G now has more than 250 customers in North America, Europe, and Australia.
Press contact: Corinne Hall, corinne@esilibrary.com, 678-269-6113
For more information on Equinox Software, please visit http://www.esilibrary.com.
For more information on Alpha G Consulting, please visit http://www.alphagconsulting.com
Evergreen is open source software, freely licensed under the GNU GPL. Evergreen and the Evergreen Logo are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of the Georgia Public Library Service.
June 6 2008
University of Prince Edward Island's Robertson Library Goes Live with Evergreen
Norcross, GA – June 6, 2008
Robertson Library at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown becomes the first academic library to run Evergreen in production. The story of the lightning migration, from concept to execution in a month, is documented in the blog of Mark Leggott, University Librarian:
Those who are interested can view the Library’s catalogue at:
http://islandpines.roblib.upei.ca/
The University was incorporated in 1969 by joining the rich traditions of two historic institutions: the Prince of Wales College (founded in 1804) with St. Dunstan's University (founded in 1854) . Charlottetown is the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, in Canada's Maritimes. P.E.I. was French territory until ceded to England by the Treaty of Paris in 1763. It is known both for its role as the “birthplace of the confederation” and also for its sandy beaches and recreational opportunities.
The Robertson library was built in 1975 and in addition to housing traditional resources (over 300,000 books, etc.), it provides access to the world's digital resources while supporting undergraduate courses and the University's strong research programs, particularly in veterinary medicine. As a part of the library's pioneering efforts in digital resources and in open source software, it is not a surprise that it becomes the first academic library to run Evergreen.
Leggott observed that "The migration gave us access to a collaborative environment typical of the open source community and provided staff at UPEI with a great opportunity to see why a move to an open system is the only way to go."
Further reflecting on the rapid, one-month migration from the idea to going live with Evergreen, he said: “This quick migration was only possible with coordination by Grant Johnson at PEI and with the incredible support of the Equinox team, Dan Scott, and an open source community that is helping redefine the information landscape.”
Equinox President, Brad LaJeunesse, concurred: “The University of Prince Edward Island's migration shows a new path to implementation of Evergreen and one that is only possible with open-source software. They had the idea, and mostly did the migration themselves with help from Equinox and the Evergreen community. We have been developing tools to speed up migrations to Evergreen but one month from the first phone call to a running ILS is just amazing and a great credit to Mark, Grant, Dan, and the rest of the staff at the Robertson Library as well as Dan and the Evergreen community.”
About Evergreen
Evergreen is an enterprise-grade open-source ILS initially created to support Georgia PINES, a consortium of over 270 public libraries. Since its debut in September 2006, Evergreen has received significant attention from around the world, including the reception of a Technology Collaboration Award and grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Additional Evergreen implementations include a growing consortium in British Columbia, Canada, and new implementations planned for Indiana and Michigan. Evergreen was designed from the ground up to be a flexible, fault-tolerant system capable of supporting libraries of all sizes. Boasting a myriad of standards-compliant methods to access and control data, Evergreen is a robust platform that evolves with the needs of even the most complex library system or consortium.
About Equinox Software, Inc.
Libraries interested in joining the open-source software revolution often face concerns over where to find the technical expertise to take advantage of their desired software products. Equinox Software Inc., based in Norcross, Ga., is a firm dedicated to working with libraries in all aspects of Evergreen, the enterprise-grade, open-source Integrated Library System (ILS).
Founded by the original Evergreen designers and developers, Equinox offers a wealth of experience and expertise in Evergreen development, support and integration. Equinox specializes in customized packages designed for the specific requirements of individual libraries and consortia. Instead of one-size-fits-all support, Equinox works closely with libraries to ensure Evergreen is implemented in the manner that best fits their individual needs. In addition to support, custom development and integration services, Equinox offers complete Evergreen hosting packages for libraries wishing to outsource their ILS infrastructure needs.
For more information on Equinox Software, please visit http://www.esilibrary.com.
June 5 2008
Kent County, Maryland, Public Library Goes Live with Evergreen
Norcross, GA –June 5, 2008
Kent County Public Library in Chestertown, Maryland has gone live with Evergreen(tm) ILS Software. In preparation, Equinox Software Inc. and Alpha-G Consulting have partnered to provide comprehensive migration services and support, including database expertise, consultation, and system configuration.
KCPL is the first public library in Maryland to migrate to an open source ILS, and according to Public Services Librarian, Karen Collier, “It took a visionary director and a dedicated staff for us to embrace an open source ILS as quickly as we did, but we're confident Evergreen is the right choice for us, and that other libraries in Maryland and elsewhere will be coming to the same conclusion. We're very excited about the future.”
The migration was handled by a partnership between Alpha-G and Equinox Software, Inc. Alpha-G is an acknowledged expert in the legacy system previously used by the Kent County Public Library and Equinox is the commercial supporter of Evergreen. John Craig, President of Alpha-G, pointed out that this was the first migration to Evergreen from this particular proprietary system and said "This was complex process to map the data and practices from the two systems. It took long hours working with the Equinox team to resolve fundamental conceptual differences in the two systems' methods of recording circulation activity. In the end, it turned out to be pretty much a trouble-free migration."
Mike Rylander, Equinox's VP of Research and Design, agreed: “We have done quite a number of migrations in the last few years but this was our first from this legacy ILS. John's widely acknowledged expertise was invaluable to us to make this migration go as well as it did. There are always problems in migrations because it is not a simple process, but it went well. We look forward to a busy future with Alpha-G.”
Craig echoed this sentiment: “Alpha-G is looking forward to what we believe will be an effective partnership for our company and for any of our clients who wish to switch to an open source solution.”
Kent County Public Library serves the 19,500 citizens of rural Kent County on Maryland's scenic Eastern Shore. The library's main branch is in historic Chestertown which is surrounded by a rich tapestry of farmland and the Chesapeake Bay. Home to the Schooner Sultana, Chestertown provides a link to the maritime heritage of the Chester River and the Chesapeake Bay. The library also has branches in the towns of Rock Hall and Galena.
The Library’s Website is at http://www.kentcountylibrary.org/
About Evergreen
Evergreen is an enterprise-grade open-source ILS initially created to support Georgia PINES, a consortium of over 270 public libraries. Since its debut in September 2006, Evergreen has received significant attention from around the world, including the reception of a Technology Collaboration Award and grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Additional Evergreen implementations include a growing consortium in British Columbia, Canada, and new implementations planned for Indiana and Michigan. Evergreen was designed from the ground up to be a flexible, fault-tolerant system capable of supporting libraries of all sizes. Boasting a myriad of standards-compliant methods to access and control data, Evergreen is a robust platform that evolves with the needs of even the most complex library system or consortium.
About Equinox Software, Inc.
Libraries interested in joining the open-source software revolution often face concerns over where to find the technical expertise to take advantage of their desired software products. Equinox Software Inc., based in Norcross, Ga., is a firm dedicated to working with libraries in all aspects of Evergreen, the enterprise-grade, open-source Integrated Library System (ILS).
Founded by the original Evergreen designers and developers, Equinox offers a wealth of experience and expertise in Evergreen development, support and integration. Equinox specializes in customized packages designed for the specific requirements of individual libraries and consortia. Instead of one-size-fits-all support, Equinox works closely with libraries to ensure Evergreen is implemented in the manner that best fits their individual needs. In addition to support, custom development and integration services, Equinox offers complete Evergreen hosting packages for libraries wishing to outsource their ILS infrastructure needs.
About Alpha-G Consulting, LLC
Alpha-G Consulting has expertise in library automation, data migration, database programming and administration, and related technologies. Alpha-G puts its expertise to work to solve its clients most vexing library and computing problems. Founded in 2001, Alpha-G now has more than 250 customers in North America, Europe, and Australia.
Press contact: Corinne Hall, corinne@esilibrary.com, 678-269-6113
For more information on Equinox Software, please visit http://www.esilibrary.com.
For more information on Alpha G Consulting, please visit http://www.alphagconsulting.com
Evergreen is open source software, freely licensed under the GNU GPL. Evergreen and the Evergreen Logo are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of the Georgia Public Library Service
June 3 2008
Shae Tetterton Joins Equinox Software, Inc.
Norcross, GA –June 3, 2008
Equinox Software, Inc., the Evergreen Experts, welcomes Shae Tetterton to the staff as Project Manager. Shae will play a key role in demonstrating Evergreen applications at industry conferences and in training new Evergreen users around the world.
Shae Tetterton received her M.L.I.S. from the University of South Carolina in 2000. She comes to Equinox from the South Carolina State Library where she has been employed as the Director of Collection Management and Project Manager for the statewide implementation of SchoolRooms. Shae was previously employed by Sirsi Corporation as a Software Trainer and Project Manager.
Bob Molyneux, Equinox's VP for Business Development knew her when he was a professor at the library school at the University of South Carolina and then again when they were both at Sirsi. He said: “We were thinking about what capabilities we needed in new staff and as we outlined this position, it was obvious to me that Shae would be a perfect fit. We invited her here, everyone agreed that she would be a great addition to the team, and, fortunately, she sees the importance and great future of open source and Evergreen and will be joining us to help forge the future. We look forward to working with her. I know from many reactions in the field that Shae is highly regarded—and with good reason.”
“I am thrilled to be joining the Equinox group.” Shae says “Open source software, such as Evergreen, is giving users a sense of ownership over how the software can serve them. By actively participating in the development, Evergreen users are driving the company and software forward with changes that will benefit the entire community. I believe Equinox is truly committed to providing the kind of service and software that will meet the unique needs and challenges libraries face. The last few years have brought significant changes to libraries as they’ve started to embrace web 2.0 and open source technology. The adoption of these new tools is propelling libraries forward and giving them more innovative and cost-effective ways to serve their staff and patrons.”
About Evergreen
Evergreen is powerful, enterprise-quality, open-source library software. Evergreen’s robust, fault-tolerant architecture is engineered to scale elegantly from the needs of the smallest of libraries to very large, high-transaction, multi-site consortia. Evergreen is also adaptive software that due to its service-oriented, standards-compliant design can nimbly evolve to meet changing library needs and user expectations.
Evergreen was initially created in 2006 to support Georgia PINES, a consortium of over 270 public libraries, when it became clear that no existing product could support the computational power required to support the daily transactions, indexing, and library activities of a massive consortium representing almost every public library in Georgia. From its first week, Evergreen has consistently outperformed expectations and resulted in acclaim and praise from users worldwide.
Evergreen has received significant attention, including a Technology Collaboration Award and grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Additional Evergreen implementations include a growing consortium in British Columbia, Canada, and new implementations planned for the Michigan Library Consortium as well as libraries in Indiana.
About Equinox Software, Inc.
Founded by the original Evergreen designers and developers, Equinox Software is a growing team of skilled developers and other professionals who provide soup-to-nuts support for Evergreen, the enterprise-grade, open-source Integrated Library System (ILS). Equinox develops, supports, trains, migrates, integrates, and consults on Evergreen, and engages with the rapidly-expanding Evergreen community. Instead of one-size-fits-all support, Equinox works closely with libraries to ensure Evergreen is implemented in the manner that best fits their individual needs. In addition to support, custom development and integration services, Equinox offers complete Evergreen hosting packages for libraries wishing to outsource their ILS infrastructure needs. Equinox also provides consulting services for libraries seeking more insight into the value proposition of open source software.
Press contact: Corinne Hall, corinne@esilibrary.com, 678-269-6113
For more information on Equinox Software, visit http://www.esilibrary.com
May 19 2008
Karen Schneider Joins Equinox Software, Inc.
Norcross, GA - May 19, 2008
Equinox Software, Inc., the Evergreen Experts, welcomes Karen Schneider to the staff as Community Librarian. Karen will play a key role in community liaison activities. She will also help build the Equinox brand and promote the use of open source software.
“I came to Equinox because, as a librarian who for sixteen years has worked with nearly every brand of library software, I enthusiastically believe in open source,” explained Karen. “The scalability, interoperability, and support models for open source library software make perfect sense for the library world and open almost limitless possibilities. I’m thrilled that by joining Equinox I have become part of the future of libraries.”
“Karen joins Equinox at a vital moment, as we prepare to bring on more libraries and field enquiries every day from libraries interested in Evergreen,” said Brad LaJeunesse, President of Equinox Software. “Karen’s industry experience and her knack for communicating will help bring home the message that with Evergreen, mature, enterprise-quality open source library software has arrived and is here to stay.”
Karen joins Equinox from the College Center for Library Automation, where she researched standards and emerging technologies. Her library career path includes managing the popular portal Librarians’ Internet Index, managing a computer network for a public library, directorships in rural and special libraries, children's librarianship, adult reference, academic library systems management, and running a one-person Internet training business. Before her library career, Karen was an aircraft maintenance officer in the U.S. Air Force. A native San Franciscan who has lived worldwide, Karen is a prolific writer who has published two books and over 100 magazine articles and blogs regularly at Free Range Librarian. She holds degrees from Barnard, University of Illinois (GSLIS 1992), and the University of San Francisco.
Karen can be reached by email at kgs@esilibrary.com
May 7 2008
Terrace Public Library Goes Live with Evergreen
Terrace Public Library of the British Columbia SITKA (formerly BC Pines) Consortium has followed Prince Rupert, Powell River, and Fort Nelson Public Libraries as the next facility to go live with Evergreen. In preparation, Equinox Software Inc. has been working closely with the consortium to provide comprehensive migration services and support, including database expertise, consultation, and system configuration.
The City of Terrace has a population of approximately 13,000 people and is located 550 miles northwest of Vancouver. The first library was founded in 1929 and has resided at its current location in Lower Little Park since 1969. It reported 210,195 circulations for 2006, the latest provincial data available.
Those who are interested can view the Terrace Public Library’s new OPAC at http://terrace.catalogue.bclibrary.ca/. Those who do might notice the continuing theme in the SITKA libraries of using interesting skins with a local theme. The figure at the top of Terrace Public Library’s OPAC is of an ancient Killer Whale that can be seen carved on a rock in Kitselas Canyon on the Skeena River. The drawing is believed to be about 10,000 years old and predates European settlement in the area by about 50 centuries. The Terrace Library is appreciative of the Kitselas band for giving them permission to use the design.
The migration of Terrace Public Library is the first step in a process that will see 14 other SITKA libraries transition to Evergreen during 2008 with the final two libraries, Mackenzie and Taylor Public Libraries, scheduled for early to mid-November 2008. At that time, the SITKA consortium will have 18 systems running Evergreen. British Columbia is following a gradual approach to moving libraries over to Evergreen as libraries will “opt-in” on their own schedule. Over the next three to five-year period it is expected that a high percentage of British Columbia libraries will participate as their contracts with their existing automation vendors expire. The SITKA OPAC is here: http://catalogue.bclibrary.ca. Watch it grow!
April 14 2008
Michigan Library Consortium Selects Equinox and Evergreen
Norcross, GA –April 14, 2008 – The Michigan Library Consortium, working in partnership with the Grand Rapids Public Library, has selected Evergreen as their next-generation library automation system. In preparation, the Michigan Library Consortium has signed a contract with Equinox Software Inc., which will provide comprehensive library data migration services, software configuration, consultation, and on-going Evergreen technical support.
A library automation system serves as the technological backbone of the library, facilitating circulation and cataloging of library materials as well as letting patrons search for items online. The Evergreen system was originally created by the Georgia Public Library Service for use in the Georgia PINES consortium and has been made available to the libraries worldwide through an open-source license.
The Michigan Library Consortium will begin the conversion to Evergreen with a pilot group of libraries. Branch, Niles, and Traverse Area District Libraries will go live over the summer. After the successful launch of the pilot libraries, Michigan Evergreen will open for other libraries in the consortium to join.
Evette Atkin, Systems Librarian at MLC, says, "We're excited to be able to offer our member libraries a high-functioning and economically-viable ILS. Evergreen exhibits the level of flexibility that our libraries want, need, and deserve. We chose Equinox because they are the driving force behind the creation and implementation of Evergreen.”
According to Brad LaJeunesse, President of Equinox Software, “Michigan’s libraries are extremely diverse with a wide range of needs. Members in the MLC represent every type of library from large research facilities to small school media centers, and public libraries in both rural and urban areas. They will benefit greatly from Evergreen’s flexibility.”
About the Michigan Library Consortium
The Michigan Library Consortium (http://mlcnet.org) is a non-profit membership organization comprised of all types of Michigan libraries. MLC provides libraries a convenient, single point of contact for training, group purchasing and technical support for electronic resources, saving member libraries time and money.
About Evergreen
Evergreen is an enterprise-grade open-source ILS initially created to support Georgia PINES, a consortium of over 270 public libraries. Since its debut in September 2006, Evergreen has received significant attention from around the world, including the reception of a Technology Collaboration Award and grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Additional Evergreen implementations include a growing consortium in British Columbia, Canada, and new implementations planned for Indiana and Michigan. Evergreen was designed from the ground up to be a flexible, fault-tolerant system capable of supporting libraries of all sizes. Boasting a myriad of standards-compliant methods to access and control data, Evergreen is a robust platform that evolves with the needs of even the most complex library system or consortium.
About Equinox Software, Inc.
Libraries interested in joining the open-source software revolution often face concerns over where to find the technical expertise to take advantage of their desired software products. Equinox Software Inc., based in Norcross, Ga., is a firm dedicated to working with libraries in all aspects of Evergreen, the enterprise-grade, open-source Integrated Library System (ILS).
Founded by the original Evergreen designers and developers, Equinox offers a wealth of experience and expertise in Evergreen development, support and integration. Equinox specializes in customized packages designed for the specific requirements of individual libraries and consortia. Instead of one-size-fits-all support, Equinox works closely with libraries to ensure Evergreen is implemented in the manner that best fits their individual needs. In addition to support, custom development and integration services, Equinox offers complete Evergreen hosting packages for libraries wishing to outsource their ILS infrastructure needs.
For more information on Equinox Software, please visit http://www.esilibrary.com.
April 10 2008
British Columbia SITKA Will Migrate 15 Libraries to Evergreen in 2008
15 more libraries will join the British Columbia SITKA (formerly BC Pines) Consortium in 2008, bringing the consortium to 18 member systems. In preparation, BC Libraries have signed a contract with Equinox Software Inc., which will provide comprehensive migration services and support, including library data expertise, consultation, and system configuration.
The migrations will begin this month as Terrace and Whistler Public Libraries go live by the end of May. Over the summer, 11 other libraries will follow suit with the final two libraries, Mackenzie and Taylor Public Libraries, scheduled for early to mid-November 2008.
British Columbia is following a gradual approach to moving libraries over to Evergreen as libraries will “opt-in” on their own schedule. Prince Rupert Public Library became the first to switch over in late 2007. Over the next three to five year period it is expected that a high percentage of British Columbia libraries will participate as their contracts with their existing automation vendors expire.
Bob Molyneux, VP for Business Development at Equinox noted: “With 241 individual libraries in over 70 systems, British Columbia resembles Georgia’s environment both in the number of libraries and the demographics of the areas represented. However, if all BC public libraries eventually join SITKA, the combined circulations will be around 52 million--about three times that of PINES. A number of the BC libraries, though, are quite a bit smaller than those in Georgia and there are three in this second group that currently do not have an automation system. Evergreen's scalable architecture is designed to handle both the larger circulations and the smaller libraries.”
April 2 2008
Equinox triumphs in the Twin Cities...now heading west. Get ready Anaheim!
Norcross, GA –April 2, 2008- Equinox Software’s first appearance at the Public Library Association Conference proved to be a huge success. Considered one of the premiere events for the library industry, this year’s conference hosted over 9,000 attendees and 800 exhibitors showing the latest in library services. Equinox Software maintained a strong presence throughout the week with a booth in the exhibition hall, their well attended “Birds of a Feather” reception, and Vice-President of Business Development, Bob Molyneux serving as a panelist for the “Mission Impossible: Build Your Own ILS” session.
The conference allowed the Equinox team the opportunity to provide demonstrations of the Evergreen Software on a one-on-one basis to library professionals from around the country. The response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic.
“I saw faces light up, heard folks gleefully figure out the advantages (benefits) to certain features, saw someone bounce, and even with one person who had a sheet full of questions and drilled through them without much emotion, at the very end she had simply said, ‘I’m very impressed,’" said Jason Etheridge Vice President of Community Support and Advocacy.
However, always looking to the future, Equinox software is now focused on having the same great response from their appearance at the American Library Association Conference in Anaheim California June 27 through July 1. According to Bill Erickson, Vice President of Software Development and Integration, “I walked away [from PLA] feeling like we had really wowed some people and that ALA will be a tremendous opportunity to reach a whole new audience.”
ALA is considered the crown jewel of library conferences with nearly 30,000 library professionals and exhibitors expected to attend.
“ALA is longer and will be more demanding, but we are ready” says Equinox President Brad LaJeunesse “PLA taught us a lot and at ALA we are going to be able to take what we learned to the next level.”
March 24 - March 29 2008
Equinox Software to Make National Conference Debut at PLA
Norcross, GA –March 24, 2007- Equinox Software is taking their show on the road as they prepare to make their national conference debut at the Public Library Association’s Conference in Minneapolis March 25-29. The Evergreen Experts will be on hand at Booth 201 and will also host a special “Birds of a Feather” event on Thursday evening to answer questions and meet and greet others from the library industry.
According to Brad LaJeunesse, President of Equinox, “This is our first big conference so we are extremely excited to be heading out to Minneapolis. It’s a great opportunity for us.”
The PLA National Conference is currently in its 12th year and is considered the premier event for public libraries in the world. It offers attendees more than a hundred high-quality educational programs, world-class speakers, a bustling exhibit hall, and countless networking opportunities and social events. With its reputation for excellence, the PLA Conference draws librarians, library support staff, trustees, friends, and library vendors from across the country and around the world.
January 28 2008
Kent County Public Library Selects Evergreen
CHESTERTOWN, MD (January 28, 2008) -- Kent County Public Library in Maryland has selected Evergreen as their next-generation library automation system. Equinox Software and Alpha-G Consulting have partnered to provide migration, on-going support, and consulting services.
A library automation system serves as the technological backbone of the library, facilitating circulation and cataloging of library materials as well as letting patrons search for items online. The Evergreen system was originally created by the Georgia Public Library Service for use in its libraries and has been made available to the libraries worldwide through an open-source license.
Kent County Public Library will become the first Evergreen-powered library in Maryland. As one of the smaller library systems in the state, there is plenty of freedom to try out new ideas. Director Jerry Keiser first came across the idea of an open-source library automation system, and presented it as a challenge to his staff. They became enthusiastic supporters after experimenting with Evergreen. Their goal now is to be up and running on their new system this May.
"We’ve chosen Evergreen because we believe it’s our best option to improve services to patrons while getting the best bang for the taxpayer’s buck, and at the same time, it lays the groundwork for collaboration with other library systems in the state. It’s a win-win situation," said Keiser.
A number of other library systems in Maryland have expressed interest in the potential of open-source systems like Evergreen and are watching to see how things go in the Kent County migration. In fact, one of the reasons Kent County selected Evergreen is that the system was developed for a consortium composed of multiple independent libraries that wished to share a single catalog of items while maintaining their independent governance. For instance, if the Kent County school system’s libraries or other public libraries in the state are interested in making it more seamless for patrons to borrow items across county and institutional boundaries, sharing a single automated library system like Evergreen could be the solution. If this sharing happened on a wide scale, this would give Maryland residents ready access to the broad array of materials owned by Maryland's libraries—just as users at Evergreen libraries have in Georgia.
Karen Collier of Kent County Public Library said, "I think open-source software in general and Evergreen in particular have the potential to become very popular in the library world. I know we’re ready to take the plunge. Evergreen’s success in Georgia and its ongoing momentum in development point to a great future for Evergreen and we’re excited about becoming a part of it."
Brad LaJeunesse, President of Equinox, remarked, "The beauty of adopting an open-source system like Evergreen is that a library system can be actively involved in development and maintenance if they choose to, or they can pay a company like Equinox to take care of everything for them, like a traditional software vendor would do. The important point is they have the choice." About Kent County Public Library
The Kent County Public Library serves the 19,500 citizens of rural Kent County, on Maryland’s scenic Eastern Shore. The library has its main branch in historic Chestertown, the capitol of Kent County, and two smaller branches in the towns of Rock Hall and Galena. Its focus is on providing information, materials, and services to support the community's interests in popular cultural social trends, and self-directed learning; offering community members the opportunity to meet and interact with others in the community; and supporting the development of skills in finding, evaluating and using information effectively. Kent County Public library was recently nominated for Library Journal’s Best Small Library in America Award for its ongoing improvements in services to patrons.
Further information about Kent County Public Library’s decision to switch to Evergreen is available on their blog at http://kcplinnovations.blogspot.com/.
About Evergreen
Evergreen is an enterprise-grade open-source ILS initially created to support Georgia PINES, a consortium of over 270 public libraries. Since its debut in September 2006, Evergreen has received significant attention from around the world, including the reception of a Technology Collaboration Award and grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Additional Evergreen implementations include a growing consortium in British Columbia, Canada, and new implementations planned for Indiana and Michigan. Evergreen was designed from the ground up to be a flexible, fault-tolerant system capable of supporting libraries of all sizes. Boasting a myriad of standards-compliant methods to access and control data, Evergreen is a robust platform that evolves with the needs of even the most complex library system or consortium.
About Equinox Software, Inc.
Libraries interested in joining the open-source software revolution often face concerns over where to find the technical expertise to take advantage of their desired software products. Equinox Software Inc., based in Norcross, Ga., is a firm dedicated to working with libraries in all aspects of Evergreen, the enterprise-grade, open-source Integrated Library System (ILS).
Founded by the original Evergreen designers and developers, Equinox offers a wealth of experience and expertise in Evergreen development, support and integration. Equinox specializes in customized packages designed for the specific requirements of individual libraries and consortia. Instead of one-size-fits-all support, Equinox works closely with libraries to ensure Evergreen is implemented in the manner that best fits their individual needs. In addition to support, custom development and integration services, Equinox offers complete Evergreen hosting packages for libraries wishing to outsource their ILS infrastructure needs.
For more information on Equinox Software, please visit http://www.esilibrary.com.
About Alpha-G Consulting, LLC
Alpha-G Consulting provides services and add-on products to libraries (principally users of the Horizon library automation system). Alpha-G has been providing its clients with personal attention, backed by expert knowledge, since 2001. Alpha-G has more than 250 customers world-wide, including libraries in North America, Europe, and the Asia/Pacific region. Alpha-G's consultants are library automation veterans who enjoy the challenge of providing effective solutions to problems that vex librarians and library users.
For more information on Alpha-G Consulting, please visit http://www.alphagconsulting.com.
November 12 2007
Dr. Robert E. Molyneux Joins Equinox Software, Inc.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA—November 12, 2007—Equinox Software, Inc, the Evergreen Experts, welcomes Bob “drdata” Molyneux as its Vice President for Business Development. He will be directing corporate planning and developing strategic partnerships.
Bob brings extensive experience from the library world in a variety of capacities. He has an MSLS from Western Reserve University and a PhD from the University of North Carolina. He has worked in libraries, taught in three library schools, and made contributions to the library literature in data compilation and analysis and in information technology. He is working on a second edition to his textbook, The Internet Under the Hood, where he plans to expand the coverage of open source applications to capture the exciting capabilities that open source promises for the library community.
“I am extremely pleased to welcome Bob to the Equinox family. He brings a unique blend of real-world experience, practical knowledge, and extensive education to the table,” said Brad LaJeunesse, President of Equinox. “Bob will be a great asset to the team and will be heavily involved in developing Equinox’s increased services to libraries.”
Bob said, “I am delighted to join the Equinox team and to have the opportunity to work both with the Evergreen and open source communities. Open source is an excellent approach for building a vibrant foundation for the future of libraries, and Evergreen and Equinox are helping to lead the way.”
Bob can be reached by phone at 1-877-OPEN-ILS (673-6457) or by email at bob@esilibrary.com
About Equinox Software, Inc.
Libraries interested in joining the open-source software revolution often face concerns over where to find the technical expertise to take advantage of their desired software products. Equinox Software Inc., based in Lawrenceville, Ga., is a firm dedicated to working with libraries in all aspects of Evergreen, the enterprise-grade, open-source Integrated Library System (ILS) developed by the Georgia Public Library Service.
Founded by the original Evergreen designers and developers, Equinox offers a wealth of experience and expertise in Evergreen development, support and integration. Equinox specializes in customized packages designed for the specific requirements of individual libraries and consortiums. Instead of one-size-fits-all support, Equinox works closely with libraries to ensure Evergreen is implemented in the manner that best fits their individual needs. In addition to support, custom development and integration services, Equinox offers complete Evergreen hosting packages for libraries wishing to outsource their ILS infrastructure needs.
For more information on Equinox Software, please visit http://www.esilibrary.com.
Press Contact
Jason Etheridge
Vice President, Community Support and Advocacy
1-877-OPEN-ILS (673-6457)
jason@esilibrary.com
December 10 2007
Evergreen recognized by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has named the Georgia Public Library Service as one of 10 recipients of the second annual Mellon Awards for Technology Collaboration. The $50,000 grant recognizes GPLS for the development and release of the Evergreen open-source library automation system.
The original Georga Public Library Service press release can be found here.
December 10 2007
Fort Nelson Public Library becomes second member of BC PINES
The British Columbia PINES program welcomes the Fort Nelson Public Library as its newest member. Working with Equinox Software, the BC PINES team was able to migrate the library into the consortium-wide shared Evergreen ILS instance.
Founded in 1805, Fort Nelson was originally a fur trading post named after Lord Nelson, who was victorious in the Battle of Trafalgar that same year. Located near mile 300 on the Alaska Highway in the Northern Rockies, the library served 46,299 circulations to its 6,255 person population in 2006.
November 5 2007
Prince Rupert Public Library migrates to BC PINES
Working with Equinox Software, the British Columbia PINES team has successfully migrated the Prince Rupert Public Library to the Evergreen open-source ILS. Located on the beautiful northern coast of British Columbia, this library serves a population of 17,000 and boasts a 2006 circulation of 103,500.
August 27 2007
Troup-Harris Regional Library System joins the Georgia Public Library Service PINES program
Equinox Software, Inc. is proud to announce another library joining the GA PINES program. The Troup-Harris Regional Library System joins over 265 Georgia libraries in using a shared installation of the Evergreen open-source ILS for their library automation needs.
July 6 2007
British Columbia Public Library Services Branch signs support contract with Equinox Software
progress can be tracked by visiting their web site, http://pines.bclibrary.ca.