Natural Resources Canada Library Selects Evergreen and Equinox
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Norcross, GA –February 20, 2009
Natural Resources Canada Library, a 13-library organization providing services to one of the largest science-based departments in the Government of Canada, has selected Evergreen, the open source, consortial-quality library software, as their next-generation library automation system. In preparation, NRCan, as it is popularly known, has signed a contract with Equinox Software Inc. for library data migration services, software configuration, consultation, and ongoing Evergreen technical support.
The NRCan libraries, which are distributed across Canada with five libraries in the Ottawa area, are currently running on two separate library systems which will migrate to Evergreen in phased deployments from 2008 through 2010.
“What many libraries want is to hit that ‘sweet spot’ between the classic turn-key solution as well as having unrestricted developer-oriented possibilities when required,” said George Duimovich, Systems Librarian. Duimovich added, “Evergreen offers the better of both worlds. Our staff and patrons will be best served by a system that we can better control, influence and support.”
“Yet another large library organization adopting Evergreen points to its innate robust qualities,” said Brad LaJeunesse, Equinox company president. “Commercially-supported open source software is a prudent decision in these shaky times. No hidden code, no absurd ‘licensing’ fees, no bad surprises.”
About Natural Resources Canada
The Department of Natural Resources Act came into force in 1995, creating NRCan by merging energy, mines, and resources with Forestry Canada. NRCan, which employs about 4,200 people, specializes in earth sciences and in the sustainable development and use of natural resources, such as energy, forests, and minerals and metals. Their website is at http://www.nrcan.gc.ca
About Evergreen
Evergreen is consortial-quality, open-source library software initially developed to support Georgia PINES, a resource-sharing consortium with over 270 public libraries. Evergreen was designed from the ground up to be robust, fault-tolerant, service-oriented, and standards-based. Evergreen nimbly evolves to meet the needs of very large, high-transaction, multi-site consortia, while elegantly scaling down to the smallest library sites.
The growing, multinational Evergreen development community has shepherded Evergreen through a series of carefully-planned releases that have further strengthened Evergreen’s consortial capabilities while adding popular and useful functionality. Evergreen 2.0, due out in 2009, will add acquisitions, serials, and reserves to Evergreen’s outstanding functionality.
From its debut in September 2006, Evergreen has earned acclaim and praise from users worldwide, including a Technology Collaboration Award from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Additional Evergreen implementations include consortial projects such as Michigan Evergreen, Evergreen Indiana, and British Columbia SITKA, and libraries such as Kent County Public Library in Maryland, Marshall Public Library in Missouri, the National Weather Center Library, and the University of Prince Edward Island. King County Library System, a public library system in Washington State, and The North Texas Regional Library System (NTRLS) have also contracted with Equinox Software for Evergreen development. For more information about Evergreen, visit http://evergreen-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 comprehensive 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 trademarks of the Georgia Public Library Service.