Evergreen (software)
Encyclopedia
Evergreen is an open source
Integrated Library System
(ILS), initially developed by the Georgia Public Library Service for Public Information Network for Electronic Services
(PINES), a statewide resource-sharing consortium with over 270 member libraries.
Beyond PINES, the Evergreen ILS is deployed worldwide in hundreds of libraries, and is used to power a number of statewide consortial catalogs.
In 2007, the original Evergreen development team formed a commercial company around the software, Equinox Software, which provides custom support, development, migration, training, and consultation for Evergreen.
(PINES) consortium. Development began in June of 2004 when state librarian Lamar Veatch announced in an open letter that after reviewing options available, GPLS decided to develop its own library automation system. GPLS believed it could develop a system customized to fit it needs better at a lower cost than the fees currently being paid. Programmers in the GPLS developed the project for two years, and PINES successfully completed the transition to Evergreen in September 5, 2006. In the next two years, the PINES consortium increased to over 270 libraries and five other systems in the United States and Canada implemented Evergreen.
Other Evergreen implementations in North America:http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2011/04/open-source-ils-continues-to-expand.html
Evergreen's features include:
Evergreen also features the Open Scalable Request Framework (OpenSRF, pronounced 'open surf'), a stateful, decentralized service architecture that allows developers to create applications for Evergreen with a minimum of knowledge of its structure.
and PostgreSQL
, with a few optimized sections rewritten in C. The catalog interface is primarily JavaScript
with XHTML
, and the staff client user interface is written in Mozilla's XUL
(XML + JavaScript). The user interface for most new staff client functionality is being built with the Dojo Toolkit
JavaScript framework. Python
is used for the internationalization build infrastructure. EDI
functionality for the acquisitions system depends upon Ruby
support.
servers and uses PostgreSQL
for its backend database. The staff client used in day-to-day operations by library staff runs on Microsoft Windows
, Macintosh
, or Linux computers and is built on XULRunner
, a Mozilla-based runtime that uses the same technology stack as Firefox
and allows for a browser-independent offline mode. The online public access catalog (OPAC) used by library patrons is accessed online in a web browser
.
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
Integrated Library System
Integrated library system
An integrated library system , also known as a library management system ,is an enterprise resource planning system for a library, used to track items owned, orders made, bills paid, and patrons who have borrowed....
(ILS), initially developed by the Georgia Public Library Service for Public Information Network for Electronic Services
Public Information Network for Electronic Services
The Public Information Network for Electronic Services is the statewide library consortium and its online library catalog of the Georgia Public Library Service...
(PINES), a statewide resource-sharing consortium with over 270 member libraries.
Beyond PINES, the Evergreen ILS is deployed worldwide in hundreds of libraries, and is used to power a number of statewide consortial catalogs.
In 2007, the original Evergreen development team formed a commercial company around the software, Equinox Software, which provides custom support, development, migration, training, and consultation for Evergreen.
History
Evergreen was developed by the Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) to support 252 public libraries in the Public Information Network for Electronic ServicesPublic Information Network for Electronic Services
The Public Information Network for Electronic Services is the statewide library consortium and its online library catalog of the Georgia Public Library Service...
(PINES) consortium. Development began in June of 2004 when state librarian Lamar Veatch announced in an open letter that after reviewing options available, GPLS decided to develop its own library automation system. GPLS believed it could develop a system customized to fit it needs better at a lower cost than the fees currently being paid. Programmers in the GPLS developed the project for two years, and PINES successfully completed the transition to Evergreen in September 5, 2006. In the next two years, the PINES consortium increased to over 270 libraries and five other systems in the United States and Canada implemented Evergreen.
Other Evergreen implementations in North America:http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2011/04/open-source-ils-continues-to-expand.html
- British Columbia SITKA (69 libraries, including branches)
- Indiana Evergreen (112 libraries)
- Merrimack Valley (Massachusetts, 39 libraries all went live over Memorial Day Weekend 5/31/2011)http://masslnc.cwmars.org/node/2370
- Maine Balsom (10 libraries)
- Niagara Libraries (Ontario, 11 libraries),
- North Texas Library Partners (rural area outside Dallas, 12 libraries),
- Pioneer Library System (Upstate New York between Rochester and Syracuse, 42 libraries),
- Sage Library System (Northeast Oregon, 60 libraries)
- SC LENDS (South Carolina, 49 libraries)
- SPRUCE (Manitoba, Canada, 8 libraries)
Features
Development priorities for Evergreen are that it be stable, robust, flexible, secure, and user-friendly.Evergreen's features include:
- Circulation: for staff to check items in and out to patrons
- CatalogingLibrary catalogA library catalog is a register of all bibliographic items found in a library or group of libraries, such as a network of libraries at several locations...
: to add items to the library’s collection and input information, classifying and indexing those items. - Online public access catalog (OPAC): a public catalog, or discovery interface, for patrons to find and request books, view their account information, and save book information in Evergreen "bookbags." The OPAC received a makeover in early 2009 with the new, optional skin, Craftsman.
- Acquisitions: for staff to keep track of those materials purchased; invoices, purchase orders, selection lists, etc.
- Statistical Reporting: flexible, powerful reporting for retrieval of any statistical information stored in the database.
- SIP 2.0 support: for interaction with computer management software, self-check machines, and other applications.
- Search/Retrieve via URLSearch/Retrieve via URLSearch/Retrieve via URL is a standard search protocol for Internet search queries, utilizing Contextual Query Language , a standard query syntax for representing queries.-External links:* at Library of Congress...
and Z39.50Z39.50Z39.50 is a client–server protocol for searching and retrieving information from remote computer databases. It is covered by ANSI/NISO standard Z39.50, and ISO standard 23950. The standard's maintenance agency is the Library of Congress....
servers
Evergreen also features the Open Scalable Request Framework (OpenSRF, pronounced 'open surf'), a stateful, decentralized service architecture that allows developers to create applications for Evergreen with a minimum of knowledge of its structure.
Languages
The business logic of Evergreen is written primarily in PerlPerl
Perl is a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming language. Perl was originally developed by Larry Wall in 1987 as a general-purpose Unix scripting language to make report processing easier. Since then, it has undergone many changes and revisions and become widely popular...
and PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL, often simply Postgres, is an object-relational database management system available for many platforms including Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, MS Windows and Mac OS X. It is released under the PostgreSQL License, which is an MIT-style license, and is thus free and open source software...
, with a few optimized sections rewritten in C. The catalog interface is primarily JavaScript
JavaScript
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
with XHTML
XHTML
XHTML is a family of XML markup languages that mirror or extend versions of the widely-used Hypertext Markup Language , the language in which web pages are written....
, and the staff client user interface is written in Mozilla's XUL
XUL
In computer programming, XUL , the XML User Interface Language, is an XML user interface markup language developed by the Mozilla project. XUL operates in Mozilla cross-platform applications such as Firefox...
(XML + JavaScript). The user interface for most new staff client functionality is being built with the Dojo Toolkit
Dojo Toolkit
Dojo Toolkit is an open source modular JavaScript library designed to ease the rapid development of cross-platform, JavaScript/Ajax-based applications and web sites. It was started by Alex Russell, Dylan Schiemann, David Schontzler, and others in 2004 and is dual-licensed under the modified BSD...
JavaScript framework. Python
Python (programming language)
Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language whose design philosophy emphasizes code readability. Python claims to "[combine] remarkable power with very clear syntax", and its standard library is large and comprehensive...
is used for the internationalization build infrastructure. EDI
Electronic Data Interchange
Electronic data interchange is the structured transmission of data between organizations by electronic means. It is used to transfer electronic documents or business data from one computer system to another computer system, i.e...
functionality for the acquisitions system depends upon Ruby
Ruby (programming language)
Ruby is a dynamic, reflective, general-purpose object-oriented programming language that combines syntax inspired by Perl with Smalltalk-like features. Ruby originated in Japan during the mid-1990s and was first developed and designed by Yukihiro "Matz" Matsumoto...
support.
Requirements
Evergreen runs on LinuxLinux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
servers and uses PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL, often simply Postgres, is an object-relational database management system available for many platforms including Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, MS Windows and Mac OS X. It is released under the PostgreSQL License, which is an MIT-style license, and is thus free and open source software...
for its backend database. The staff client used in day-to-day operations by library staff runs on Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
, or Linux computers and is built on XULRunner
XULRunner
XULRunner is a runtime environment developed by the Mozilla Foundation to provide a common back-end for XUL-based applications. It replaced the Gecko Runtime Environment, a stalled project with a similar purpose....
, a Mozilla-based runtime that uses the same technology stack as Firefox
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser descended from the Mozilla Application Suite and managed by Mozilla Corporation. , Firefox is the second most widely used browser, with approximately 25% of worldwide usage share of web browsers...
and allows for a browser-independent offline mode. The online public access catalog (OPAC) used by library patrons is accessed online in a web browser
Web browser
A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...
.
Other Open Source Integrated Library Systems (ILS)
- KohaKoha (software)Koha is an open source Integrated Library System , used world-wide by public, school and special libraries. The name koha comes from a Māori term for a gift or donation .- Features :...
- PhpMyBibliPhpMyBibliPMB is a fully featured open source integrated library system. The project was initiated by François Lemarchand in October 2002, Director of the Public Library of Agneaux; it is now maintained by PMB Services .- Features :...
- OpenBiblioOpenBiblio-History:Created in 2002 under General Public Licence . It is written in PHP containing OPAC, circulation, cataloging, and staff administration functionality....
- OPALS
External links
- Official Evergreen project website
- Evergreen blog
- Evergreen development roadmap
- Equinox Software
- "Evergreen: Your Homegrown ILS - An in-house team successfully competes with commercial vendors in the library automation sphere" Library JournalLibrary JournalLibrary Journal is a trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey . It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice...
article - "Librarians stake their future on open source"
- PINES catalog
- Evergreen online demo server