Incoming!

Later this afternoon, Mandarin, the program responsible for the library's catalogue and circulation, will be shut down for the last time.  This weekend, technicians will be uploading the library's data, and the library will officially start using Sitka Evergreen starting Monday.

Instead of writing a lengthy essay about what Sitka Evergreen is, and what it'll do for the library, I've decided to just post a list of questions and answers I wrote for staff members so they could talk to patrons about Evergreen.

So what is Sitka Evergreen?

Evergreen is an open source integrated library system (ILS) -- the program that handles the library's cataloguing and circulation.  Sitka Evergreen is the name for the group of BC libraries that are installing Evergreen.

Why is the Tumbler Ridge Public Library switching to Evergreen?

• Using the same program as other libraries in BC will allow us to
• Share our catalogue listings
• Make it easier for patrons to find books to request through interlibrary loans
• Reduce duplication of effort between libraries
• Lower cataloguing costs
• Give our library a say in how our ILS will be developed and improved going forward
• Evergreen will also allow us to
• Properly track youth accounts
• Distribute overdue and hold notices by e-mail

How will Evergreen change things for me?

• Patrons will be required to show their library cards to borrow or renew items
• The Library's grace period will be reduced to one day
• The Library's online catalogue will look different and offer a number of extra functions, including
• the ability to search the catalogue of every BC library using Evergreen
• a shelf browser, which will show you items shelved near the title you've searched for

Why do I need to carry my library card to borrow items?

Evergreen works differently from Mandarin, our current system.  As a side benefit, requiring library cards to borrow or renew items will increase individual user security, as patrons will no longer be able to borrow books based on their knowledge of another patron's name and/or phone number.

Why is the grace period only one day?

The grace period is programmed into Evergreen, and may not be changed by individual libraries at this time.

Will the library's loan lengths or fines change?

No.  Items will still be loaned for the same length of time, and overdue fines will be unchanged.

The staff members at the library have had training and access to a test server to practice with, but we're still learning exactly what Evergreen can do.  It'll be a few weeks before we're completely comfortable with it.  In the meantime, please bear with us, and always remember your library card.