Evergreen Indiana Launches Two More Libraries, Bringing Total to 26
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Norcross, GA – April 27, 2009
Two more libraries in Indiana, Switzerland County Public Library and Carnegie Public Library of Steuben County, have gone live with Evergreen, the consortial-quality open-source library automation software. 26 libraries are now live on Evergreen Indiana, a shared-catalog project of the Indiana State Library. Equinox Software, Inc., the support and development company established by the original Evergreen developers, provided bumper-to-bumper support for the migrations and is now providing round-the-clock ongoing technical support.
“Our staff is very impressed at how easy and intuitive the staff interface is,” said Sonya Dintaman, director of the Carnegie Public Library of Steuben County. “They especially like having more than one path to any function.” Shannon Phipps, Director of Switzerland County Public Library, added, “Patrons are excited about the new opportunities that Evergreen will provide” such as bookbags, easy hold functions, and overdue ‘preminders.’”
“Evergreen Indiana now represents the collective presence of 3.5 million annual circulations,” said Brad LaJeunesse, Equinox company president. “This demonstrates the power of Evergreen to unite librarians economically and effectively into mass consortia, giving libraries tremendous return on investment.”
Switzerland County Public Library is located in Vevay, Indiana, along the banks of the Ohio River. They have 47,000 bibliographic items and serve approximately 5,200 patrons. Carnegie Public Library is located in the northeast corner of Indiana. They have 59,500 bibliographic titles and serve about 10,400 patrons. The shared catalog for Evergreen Indiana is at http://evergreen.lib.in.us.

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 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.
Other libraries contracting with Equinox software for future Evergreen services include King County Library System (a public library system in Washington State), the thirteen libraries of Natural Resources Canada, North Texas Regional Library System, and South Carolina LENDS, an 11-library consortium. A number of libraries “go it alone” with Evergreen by providing their own migration and support, which further demonstrates the power, ease, and reliability of this state-of-the-art library software.
For more information about Evergreen, see 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.

"Our strategy to move library management systems to Web scale builds on OCLC's 40-year history of innovation and cooperation," said Jay Jordan, OCLC President and CEO. "In 1967, OCLC Founder Fred Kilgour revealed a strategy to create an online union catalog through shared cataloging in order to reduce individual transaction costs for libraries. The result has been WorldCat, which has saved libraries millions of dollars in cataloging and interlibrary loan costs. Today, we are extending that strategy of cooperation to reduce the costs of library management functions such as circulation and acquisitions. Our goal is to lower the total cost of managing library collections while enhancing the library user's experience."

"Thanks to the pioneering efforts of member libraries that participated in WorldCat Local pilots and those that became early adopters, we now have the opportunity to accelerate the movement of library management services to Web scale through 'quick start' and additional services. OCLC will soon name an advisory council that will provide valuable input and experience as we move forward with our cooperative Web-scale library services,” said Mr. Jordan.

Libraries that subscribe to FirstSearch WorldCat will get the WorldCat Local "quick start" service as part of their subscription at no additional charge. WorldCat Local "quick start" offers libraries a locally branded catalog interface and simple search box that presents localized search results for print and electronic content along with the ability to search the entire WorldCat database and other resources via the Web.

OCLC plans to release Web-scale delivery and circulation, print and electronic acquisitions, and license management components to WorldCat Local, continuing the integration of library management services to create the Web-scale, cooperative library service. OCLC will begin piloting the Web-scale management service components this year.

This new library service design will support library management for print, electronic and licensed materials built on a new, Web-scale architecture that provides streamlined workflows and cooperative solutions. This Web-scale solution will not only include the functionality of disparate systems, it will interoperate with third-party business process systems, such as finance and human resources, and will reduce the total cost of ownership for libraries. The cooperative nature of the platform will create network effects for libraries with enhanced discovery, resource sharing, and metadata management, and through sharing collection management information, identity management, and collective intelligence fueled by data shared through the cooperative and with partners.

"Visits to libraries, focus groups, and over a decade of engagement in the library automation world have convinced me that libraries require less complexity in their management systems,” said Andrew Pace, OCLC Executive Director for Networked Library Services. "To truly deliver network-level services—a platform-as-a-service solution—and not simply Internet-hosted solutions of current library services, new system architectures and workflows must be built that are engineered to support Web-scale transaction rates and Web-scale collaboration. OCLC is in a unique position to create cooperative network effects in library management services on a par with OCLC Cataloging and OCLC Resource Sharing."

OCLC will work with the more than 1,000 libraries and partners that are currently using OCLC library management systems in Europe and Asia Pacific to help build this service. OCLC will continue to develop and support its existing systems in Europe and Asia Pacific. OCLC will accelerate efforts to create robust data-exchange capabilities between OCLC library management systems and the WorldCat platform. Libraries and partners using current OCLC library management systems will be able to participate in this new development by adding Web-based services to their local solutions to extend their services for end users.

In 2006, OCLC launched WorldCat.org, which provides Web access to the world's richest database for discovery of library materials through a single search box, and through the world's most popular search engines. To date, more than 25 million user requests have been connected to local libraries from a Web search. WorldCat Local, introduced in 2007, brought this single, integrated search to the library's own branded Web page.

In July 2009, libraries will be able to start using WorldCat.org as their user interface for the OCLC FirstSearch service, providing integrated access through a single search box to NetLibrary eBooks and eAudiobooks, Electronic Collections Online eJournals, OCLC FirstSearch databases, ArchiveGrid archival collection descriptions and CAMIO (the Catalog of Art Museum Images Online). At the same time, OCLC will add an enhanced, comprehensive search capability to WorldCat Local, which will return all print, electronic and licensed content available to the library from any location. OCLC will pilot WorldCat Local circulation and acquisitions services later this year.

About OCLC
Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, OCLC is a nonprofit library service and research organization that has provided computer-based cataloging, reference, resource sharing, eContent, preservation, library management and Web services to 69,000 libraries in 112 countries and territories. OCLC and its member libraries worldwide have created and maintain WorldCat, the world’s richest online resource for finding library materials. Search WorldCat.org on the Web at www.worldcat.org. For more information, visit www.oclc.org.

Arts and Crafts Workshop for Youth Librarians

Are you the librarian responsible for creating arts and crafts programs? Do you need new creative art project ideas for your Summer Reading Program or other events? Tired of the same ole, same ole. This is your opportunity to develop a portfolio of ideas that you can use with your Preschool through Teen visitors. Learn simple basic techniques for teaching art to all age groups of children and teens. No prior art experience required. This 4 week online workshop is taught by an art professor and experienced library performer who has first hand experience developing library art programs. Interact with other Youth Librarians from around the country and a real art professor. The online class is open 24/7. Access the online workshop at your convenience.

Instructor Valerie Colston, M.A. is an art professor and author with many years of experience developing and teaching art programs as an Art Performer at several San Diego, California local libraries. She teaches 100 Art Ideas for Teachers at the University of California, Extension in San Diego, California and a variety of Art history courses online through colleges and universities. Her 200 Projects to Strengthen Your Art Skills published by Barrons Educational Series was released April 2008.

Here's what youth librarians who have taken the class are saying about the workshop:

"In working on this workshop I have worked also on my Summer Reading Program for our library. Week 3 gave so many ideas to use that it was fun to do them and discover which ones would work well for our young patrons. I now have crafts for at least 2 of the 4 books we will read in my Youth Discussion Group. I am well ahead of the game."

"I really enjoyed answering the questions about the piece of art in the museum. I want to use some of the questions I learned this summer when we read "Chasing Vermeer" because the book deals with a piece of art."

"Thanks for all the help with one of my books for the Summer Reading Program."

"Well, I had not thought about bonding art and books together in one reading hour before, so I got new and interesting views of what to do. Thank you for the wonderful ideas.
I had a great time brainstorming ideas and reading the suggestions everyone had!
I feel I learned how to study a painting in more depth. That a painting is made up of many facets. The lines, colors and textures all blend together to make one painting."

"I gained lots of great ideas from everyone. The ideas were great and I will incorporate some of them into my programs."

"I will keep a copy of the different things I have learned in this session of the class to apply it to painting I encounter. It is exciting."

"I bookmarked several of the sites presented in the lessons which will come in handy when I get stuck for ideas. It also helps reading the other's experiences in working with library patrons in crafts events."

"Finding ideas are hard to find and this is a wealth of information for myself and the library."

"Thank you very much for the wonderful and interesting web-sites, you mentioned. There are so great ideas."

"I was delighted to find some new web sites for inspiration - many of my students love to draw and I hope to integrate some of the cartoon drawing lessons in to our weekly book club meetings, possibly in the creation of bookmarks, etc."

"It has been great having so much information all in one place. I enjoyed browsing through the many websites & links. Many are new to me. I appreciate all of your suggestions for organization, supplies, storage, recycling, and art tips & resources."

"Where do I begin! I have learned about so many resources. I really liked the online scavenger hunt, what a great idea. I also really loved the letter writing with beads."

"This week gave me a great many resources to use in our library. I really had to think for the scavenger hunt but I love the idea and did work our a hunt. I also thought the "wanted" poster was fun as well . . ."

"There really are a wealth of information and ideas to explore."

"I would recommend this class to others. After all I took this class because my supervisor recommended it to me."

This is a non-credit workshop created by Art Teacher on the Net residing in San Diego, California. Indiana Librarians have been approved to receive 12 LEU's for completing the course.

For more information Contact-Valerie Colston @ 858-453-2ART or through email at crafts@artmuseums.com or art259@hotmail.com

Sign Up Today for the May 8, 2009 workshop at http://www.artmuseums.com/youthlibrarian.htm
This is a 4 week workshop only $59.00 (USD) UK, Canadian, Australian and other currency accepted on the Pay Pal secure website.

You may purchase the class online through a secured site or school and Library checks are also accepted upon approval.

Contact:
Valerie Colston
Art Teacher on the Net
858-453-2278
crafts@artmuseums.com
art259@hotmail.com

Aurora, Colo., April 22, 2009 — Current NEBASE libraries will be moving to BCR for their OCLC products and services starting July 1, 2009, as the result of a recommendation from the Nebraska Library Commission and an agreement between BCR and OCLC.

The move of Nebraska’s libraries using OCLC services to obtain those services through BCR is the result of a decision made by the Nebraska Library Commission to dissolve NEBASE as an OCLC network. By obtaining OCLC services through BCR, Nebraska libraries automatically become BCR members and will benefit from BCR’s extensive experience working with libraries and their national membership base.

“BCR has a history of providing some services to Nebraska libraries, and we’re pleased to expand that relationship into other areas,” noted Brenda Bailey-Hainer, BCR’s President and CEO. “Our newest members will benefit from our long-standing relationship with OCLC in providing quality training and service.”

“The Nebraska Library Commission was pleased with responses from BCR to its concerns over NEBASE members’ needs for billing, support and training. We believe working with an experienced regional organization will provide members the same level of service that they had with NEBASE,” says Devra Dragos, NEBASE Director of Network Services.

To assist with the move to BCR, Regan Harper, BCR’s Director of Training and OCLC Services, who is heading up the transition team, will be meeting with Nebraska libraries at a “Farewell to NEBASE” event being held June 25, at the Marriott Cornhusker Hotel, in Lincoln.

About BCR
BCR brings libraries together for greater success by expanding their knowledge, reach and power. They offer a broad range of solutions and their hands-on, personal attention to each member enables them to deliver effective and timely solutions that help libraries keep pace with new developments in technology and services. BCR is the nation’s oldest and most established multistate library cooperative. Since 1935, the BCR team has helped libraries learn new skills, reach patrons, increase productivity and save money. BCR (Bibliographical Center for Research) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit headquartered in Aurora, Colorado. For more information, visit www.BCR.org or email info@BCR.org.

YELLOWKNIFE (April 20, 2009) – In line with the 16th Assembly’s vision of ‘Northerners Working Together’, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) has increased direct funding to libraries for the 2009-2010 financial year. The Assembly has identified “healthy, educated people” as one of the six goals of this vision.

This increase in funding will allow smaller libraries to increase their operations from 20 hours per week to 30 hours per week and will also allow libraries to address cost increases resulting from increased utility rates, shipping rates and service use. Circulation has increased by 69% in the last two years.

“It is important to us that NWT residents have quality library services available to them,” said Minister Jackson Lafferty. “We hope that this increased funding will make additional and improved services available to NWT residents who are on the journey of lifelong learning and literacy.”

The Department of ECE is responsible for providing free public library services to residents across the Northwest Territories. ECE supports libraries in 15 communities in a number of ways and provides direct services to residents in the remaining communities through web and postal service. In conjunction with close to a $270 million investment in education, this increase in library funding is one of the ways the Government of the Northwest Territories is building the future and expanding programming for children and youth.

For more information, please contact:

Shawn McCann
Manager of Public Affairs
Education, Culture and Employment
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 920-6222
E-mail: shawn_mccann@gov.nt.ca