[needs-packaging] Evergreen - Integrated Library System (ILS)

[Tree MendUs]

URL:
http://open-ils.org/

Description:
Evergreen is an Integrated Library System, with a modular structure.

Why this software project began -

In 2005, the automation system for PINES, the lending network for Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS), was rapidly failing. GPLS, the Georgia State Library, and PINES approached other library software vendors, but every system evaluated, whether proprietary or open source, fell short in one way or another, usually due to fundamental design issues.

A few of the vendors GPLS met with admitted that they couldn't handle PINES' requirements, and didn't want to try.

We decided that instead of pointing fingers at vendors or complaining about the limitations of legacy software, we would write the kind of system we want our users to experience.
Why are you sharing it with others?

We share the software because of ideology and pragmatism. We're a mix of librarians and open source advocates, and we believe information should be shared. Just as books are for use, software should also be for use. Most libraries have stopped chaining their books to their stacks, and similarly, open source software gives you freedoms you won't find with proprietary software. Not only are you free to use it, you are free to improve it and share it, and free to hire anyone you want to support it. It's a win-win for everyone.

Evergreen currently has modules for circulation, cataloging, web catalog, and statistical reporting. Evergreen also supports the SIP2 protocol for self-check and Internet/computer access control.

General Features
Flexible representation of the organization hierarchy.
Fine-grained permission system for groups and users.

A) Features of the circulation module.
"At a glance patron summary".
Library-defined statistical categories for patrons.
Notes and alert fields for patrons.
Separation of patron accounts and library cards.
Group management.
Circulation of non-cataloged and pre-cataloged materials.
Customizable receipt printing based on templates.
Fine-grained control of bills with groupings and line-items.
Customizable circulation rules for defining privileges.

B) Features of the cataloging module.
Library-defined statistical categories for items.
Unlimited notes for annotating items.
"Buckets" for grouping and sharing related items and bibliographic records.
Record merging functionality in bibliographic buckets.
Batch Creation of Volumes/Copies across multiple branches.
Powerful mechanics for moving volumes and copies within and across records and volumes.
Customizable label printing based on templates.
Z39.50 client to search and retrieve records from 3rd party sources.
Authority Validation of MARC records to cross-reference records.
RSS feeds for record creation.

C) Features of the web catalog module.
Google-like interface by default.
Related Subject, Author, and Series sidebars based on authority data and search results for exploring the catalog.
Integration with common web browsers, news aggregators, and search engines through RSS feeds, unAPI, OpenSearch semantics, and multiple XML and library formats for exporting data. Allows for library content to be pushed into areas outside the normal influence of libraries.
Plug-in support for "Added Content" vendors for providing such things as jacket cover images and reviews.
"Bookbags" allow patrons and librarians to group titles in arbitrary ways and share those groupings.
"Metarecords" for grouping different formats and editions of the same work together.
"My Account" user services allows for such things as user initiated batch renewal, and the setting of notification options for holds.

D) Features of the statistical reporting module.
GUI based report builder.
No special license fees for direct SQL access to the database. The database and the data schema are both open sourced.

License:
Evergreen is open-source software, licensed under the General Public License (GPL). It can be downloaded for free. That's right. Free. see - http://open-ils.org/faq.php

Downloads:
http://open-ils.org/downloads.php

[Tree MendUs (tree-mendus-deactivatedaccount)]

Not packaged, so too early to request a backport.

[pinzia (pinzia)]

any news for evergreen?

[Dan Scott (denials)]

During the summer of 2008, we converted our build system to use autotools - albeit a fairly rough implementation that could use more polishing from someone with more autoconf/automake experience.

We also need to work out how to share the virtual host that Evergreen currently takes over when it is installed, make the database conform to Ubuntu packaging rules (although that might not take much work), and figure out how to apply our special ejabberd configuration needs without clobbering ejabberd for every other possible use on the system. So... there's some work to be done, still.

We really need the help of some packaging experts, as I'm sure most of these problems have been solved before.