Survey Time - What do you think about Evergreen?!?

Can you believe it's been seven months since our library consortium (MVLC) switched over to an open source catalog system called Evergreen. Now that we've all had some time to get to know the new system, MVLC is asking you patrons to share your thoughts on what you think about Evergreen. So, if you have a few minutes to complete their survey, we'd be grateful.

Library Elf Can Help

One of the more frequent questions we've been receiving about the new catalog system (Evergreen) is that when you log into "My Account" to request and view materials you've requested, the new system will list what you have on hold but it doesn't tell you your queue position. This is something that MVLC is working to fix but in the meantime it might be worth it to create a LIBRARY ELF account.

Library Elf is a service that helps you manage your library loans and holds. You can opt to receive email notices when items are due, overdue, or ready for pick up. And once you create an account you can log in to see what you have out, what you have coming and what your queue position is for a given item.

To get started, have your library card and PIN ready and go to Library Elf’s web site and complete the simple sign up form and register.

Please note: this private service is not affiliated with either Pollard Library or MVLC and is not specifically endorsed by the consortium. Please read Library Elf's FAQ and Privacy Policy before deciding to sign up for the service.

Welcome Evergreen!

Happy Tuesday! MVLC's Great Memorial Day Data Migration is over, and the new system is live! You can try it out at lowell.mvlc.org. And please, let us know what you think by sending an email to mloref@mvlc.org. We appreciate your continued patience and understanding while we work to address any challenges the new system might present in the coming weeks.

It looks like we're not the only library consortium to make the switch to Evergreen over the weekend. Bibliomation in Connecticut made the switch to the open source integrated library system too! There must be something in the late spring air.

Pardon the disruption

Just a reminder, the MVLC will be migrating our data over to a new system over the holiday weekend. So, the current catalog will be disabled at the end of the day (9pm) Friday. And we'll be going live with the new system Tuesday morning. So, over the weekend we will not have any online library catalog for you to search for materials (books, audiobooks, dvds, etc) or to place requests for said materials or to request renewals. We will be open on Saturday from 9am-5pm and you can come into the library to check out books or return them but we will not be able to place requests or reserve museum passes. Also, our online databases will be affected.

We appreciate your patience while we take our systems offline this weekend to implement the new system. Perhaps more importantly, we appreciate in advance, your patience with us as we learn to master the new system. This upgrade, along with any large system upgrade comes with unforeseen challenges and a natural adjustment period for all users (staff and patron alike) and we want to thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.

The New Library Catalog will Go Live May 31st

Here's an update on the New "Evergreen" Catalog:

The Pollard Library along with the other libraries of the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium, will be launching a new catalog over Memorial Day weekend. The current catalog will shut down at the end of the day on Friday, May 27, 2011. Patrons will be able to check materials in and out at the library from 9am-5pm on Saturday, May 28th but they will not be able to search the catalog or place holds on materials or book museum passes over the course of the Memorial Day weekend. Access to some online databases may also be disrupted. The new system is scheduled to go live on Tuesday, May 31, 2011. Access to the statewide Virtual Catalog was shut down May 17th.

Any holds previously placed on materials should carry over to the new system. Users will find that their personally-created lists in the bookbags will be available in the “My Accounts” area of the new catalog. Library users will enjoy some new features with the Evergreen system, such as the ability to share their bookbags with others, more flexibility in creating user passwords, and the ability to update their street and e-mail addresses. Patrons will also have more flexibility and control over their catalog searches with the new system, including setting account preferences to search the Pollard Library only or MVLC as a whole. If you want to try it out here is a link to the demo version of the new catalog -- (FOR TESTING PURPOSES ONLY).

Coming attractions over the next few months include an improved catalog design, a feature allowing users to track their reading history, and a version of the catalog usable on mobile devices.

The Merrimack Valley Library Consortium will be the first large library system in Massachusetts to use Evergreen. The move to Evergreen is part of a larger project that will see MVLC, along with two other Massachusetts’ library consortia, NOBLE and C/W MARS, using Evergreen by early 2012. These three library networks encompass approximately half of the public libraries in the Commonwealth along with a number of academic libraries. The project includes locally-sponsored development funded with a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and by participating libraries.

We appreciate your patience while we all get used to the new system and work to utilize the great new features. If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to ask a librarian or email mloref@mvlc.org.

Evergreen Migration

As you may know, the Pollard along with the other libraries in the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) will be moving to a new library system this May. The following is a FAQ about the process, currently on the MVLC website. Stay tuned for more updates as they are available.

What We’re Doing:

MVLC libraries will be moving to a new automated library system, called Evergreen, at the end of May, Evergreen is an open-source library system that was developed in Georgia in 2006 and has been adopted by libraries and library systems throughout the world since, including two in New England. MVLC will be the first library system in Massachusetts to move to Evergreen, but we will be quickly followed by two other large library networks – NOBLE and C/W MARS.
Being open source, the new software will allow us to make changes to our own system and provide beneficial control over the development, maintenance, reliability and adaptability of our most essential services and their associated costs. Ultimately, it will provide MVLC the opportunity to design an information system that will fit the needs of our users, rather than being limited by the existing services that are provided by privately licensed software.

When Will It Happen?

Migration to the new system is planned for the Memorial Day weekend. We will be taking our current system down at the end of business on Friday, May 27th and coming up live on our new system on Tuesday, May 31.

Will Service be Disrupted?

During the transition, many MVLC provided services will be unavailable. Libraries will be able to check materials in and out, but there will be no ability to look up items in the public catalog or to place holds. Many databases and most electronic content will also be unavailable. (Some databases subscribed to by our individual members may be available.) OverDrive e-books and audio books will also not be accessible during that time. We will provide more specific information as the time draws closer.

Will the Holds I’ve Placed Be in the New System?

Yes. All current requests will be migrated to the new system.

What about the booklists I’ve created in My List?

Evergreen has a similar feature called the Bookbag. All My List information will be migrated to your Evergreen Bookbag.

Should I print out copies of My Lists, My Holds and My Searches?

Test results indicate that account information is successfully transferring from the old system to the new. However, if you’d like to keep a record of your account specific details, just in case, we encourage you to print the information that is most vital, such as items checked out, your holds list, My List titles, etc. in order to ensure that you have a backup of that information.

Stay tuned for further updates.

The Pollard is going Green (Evergreen, That Is)

Since its St. Patrick's Day and we're all enjoying the color green we thought we might ask if you've heard the news that the Pollard Library, along with the other members of the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) will soon move its library catalog and circulation system to Evergreen, an open-source integrated library system used by hundreds of libraries nationwide and in Canada.

This move is designed to improve services for you, our patrons. Some new features with the Evergreen system include a version of the catalog for use on mobile devices, more flexibility for you in creating user names and passwords to access and use the online catalog, and the ability for you to update your account information as well as to pay fines online. You will also have more flexibility and control over your catalog searches with Evergreen, including setting account preferences to automatically search the Pollard Library only or MVLC as a whole.

You may be familiar with Open Office which is another open source software system currently in use at the Pollard. Evergreen is a library-specific open-source software program originally developed by the Georgia Public Library. In case you're wondering what the big deal is about "open source" software, you should know that calling something open-source means that it is software that is mostly developed in a public, collaborative manner. This collaboration allows users to study, change, and improve the software as it is being used.

MVLC will be the first large library system in Massachusetts to move to Evergreen. The anticipated date for the changeover is May 2011. Stay tuned here at the PML Blog for updates and to learn about the new features Evergeen will bring. Go Green!