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2021 Evergreen Conference Program Descriptions
See the Program Schedule for a grid view of the programs scheduled for each day of the conference.
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday
Monday, May 24
PRE-CONFERENCE SESSIONS (additional registration fee required)
12:00 to 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Anonymous in the Forest: Personally-Identifying Information in Evergreen (Slides) (Video)
Join me for a review of and what and where personally identifying information about patrons themselves and their transactions are stored in Evergreen and what your options are for anonymizing them. After the review, we will have a question and answer session with group discussion.
Presenter: Rogan Hamby, Project and Data Analyst, Equinox Open Library Initiative
Hungry Hungry Space Hippos: A Journey Further Into the Ever-Expanding Universe of How Holds Work in Evergreen (Slides) (Video)
This session will answer the ever elusive question: How do holds work in Evergreen? In this session we will take a deep dive into the mechanics of hold fulfillment in Evergreen: targeting and opportunistic capture. We will also examine hold configuration options that libraries can use to fine-tune how holds work at their library, including Best Hold Selection Sort Order, Org Unit Proximity Adjustments, and the many Library Settings related to holds. Join us to learn the answers to questions such as: What is the hold-copy map/potentials list? Is the hold queue position a lie? How can my library adjust hold fulfillment order? How can I optimize holds configuration for my library or consortium? And more!
*This session builds upon the 2011 Evergreen Conference presentation “A Clockwork Hippo: How holds work in Evergreen”.
Presenters: Andrea Buntz Neiman, Project Manager for Software Development, Equinox Open Library Initiative; Mike Rylander, Research and Development Manager, Equinox Open Library Initiative; Angela Kilsdonk, Product and Education Manager, Equinox Open Library Initiative
2:00 to 2:30 p.m. (ET)
Break Time
2:30 to 4:30 p.m. (ET)
AsciiDoc and Antora (Documentation) (Video)
Let’s set up an Antora Server and bring in the docs. This is a step by step guide to setting up an Antora Server and writing in AsciiDoc.
Presenters: Blake Graham-Henderson, MOBIUS; Lynn Floyd, Evergreen Indiana
Making the Most of Evergreen Reports (Session Outline) (Video)
Evergreen’s built-in report-creating feature is powerful, extensible, and allows for very fine-grained and targeted data retrieval. This extended session covers the design of the reports interface and how you can select and join together the best sources you can for your libraries’ reporting needs. We’ll peek under the hood some so you’ll understand better how Evergreen reports work from the database up. Includes practical real-life examples gleaned from years of supporting and troubleshooting PINES reports.
Presenter: Chris Sharp, PINES System Administrator, Georgia Public Library Service
Tuesday, May 25
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (ET)
Welcome and Keynote Address (Slides – Welcome ; Keynote) (Video)
12:30 to 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Exhibitor Time
Exhibitor booth hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12pm – 4pm Eastern Time
1:00 to 1:50 p.m.
Connecting Evergreen to External Services (Slides) (Video)
Join us to review some of the most common ways to connect Evergreen to external applications such as extracts, SIP2, Atom feeds, and more. This presentation is for local library staff who may not be familiar with the technical aspects of the Evergreen server but need to communicate with help desks and vendors.
Presenter: Rogan Hamby, Project and Data Analyst, Equinox Open Library Initiative
Building Our Collage: How Evergreen’s Documentation Works (Slides – busy format ; simple format) (Video)
More than 100 people have contributed to Evergreen’s documentation over the years — it’s a collaborative collage masterpiece! But how do all these efforts coalesce into a manual that the whole Evergreen community can use? This session will walk through the entire process that documentation takes: from an idea to an official part of the Evergreen manual. We’ll come together to contribute to various parts of this process, culminating in live editing of the documentation.
Presenter: Jane Sandberg, Electronic Resources Librarian, Linn-Benton Community College
2:00 to 2:50 p.m. (ET)
Picture Perfect: Icons in Evergreen (Slides) (Video)
Did you ever wonder why a bib record has an unexpected icon? Where did that come from and how do you change it? Join us as we look at the Search and Icon Formats currently used across the Evergreen community to explore how they are defined and how to update a bib record to affect changes. We’ll also discuss how icons can be customized and provide examples of custom icons that some libraries are already using. Administrative functions within the staff interface, including differences between Evergreen versions, will be discussed. Supplemental documentation and handouts appropriate for framing will be provided!
Presenters: Jennifer Weston, Product and Education Specialist, Equinox Open Library Initiative; Kate Coleman, Technical Services Manager, Jefferson County Library, Missouri Evergreen Consortium
System Administrator Interest Group
The Evergreen System Administration Interest Group has met regularly every conference and is intended for those interested in or working with server or local system administration related to Evergreen, Linux, and many other magical things. With our emphasis on small group discussions, everyone is welcome to come participate, ask questions, and share their cool approaches to solving problems.
Presenter: Chris Sharp, PINES System Administrator
3:00 to 3:30 p.m. (ET)
Break / Exhibitor Time
Exhibitor booth hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12pm – 4pm Eastern Time
3:30 to 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Lightning Talks (Video)
4:00 to 4:50 p.m. (ET)
It’s a Feature, Not a Bug: New Feature Highlights for 3.6 and 3.7 (Slides) (Video)
The Ruth & Andrea show is back for another year! Join us as we delve into the featurey goodness from the 3.6 and 3.7 releases. Come hear about what’s been added, amended, and Angularized in the Evergreen ILS. We won’t get to talk about everything, but we will hit the highlights from both releases.
Presenters: Andrea Buntz Neiman, Project Manager for Software Development, Equinox Open Library Initiative; Ruth Frasur, Evergreen Development and Support Administrator, Indiana State Library
Resource Sharing Using Geolocation in North Carolina (Slides) (Video)
In this presentation we’ll talk about the unique challenges that North Carolina’s geography creates for state-wide resource sharing and how geolocation services, such as the Bing Maps API, could be used to increase the efficiency of the hold targeter for inter-library holds in our consortium.
Presenter: Llewellyn Marshall, N.C. Cardinal Administrator & Developer, State Library of North Carolina
5:00 to 5:50 p.m. (ET)
Serials Interest Group
Serials Interest Group discussion open to anyone currently using the Evergreen Serials module or anyone interested in learning more about it.
Presenter: Erica Rohlfs, Senior Implementation Project Manager, Equinox Open Library Initiative
From Pandemics to Power Outages: How Evergreen Can Help Libraries Handle Closings with Grace (Slides) (Video)
Presenters will discuss how SPARK/PaILS libraries used various Evergreen features to manage a variety of length of closings and partial re-openings, with emphasis on how libraries can prepare for and react to future closings.
Presenters: Katie Greenleaf Martin, District Consultant, Altoona District Libraries; Heather Lindskold, Administrative Assistant, Altoona Area Public Libary; Jennifer Bruch, ILS Application Specialist, Pennsylvania Integrated Library System
Wednesday, May 26
11:00 to 11:50 a.m. (ET)
Localization Is So Much More Than Just Translation (Slides) (Video)
The presentation will focus on Evergreen as an ILS which can be localized and therefore used internationally in various language settings. We will describe steps one needs to take to translate Evergreen to another language and mention some of the challenges the translator may need to deal with. Some of the other localization tasks will also be introduced. These tasks are often rather complex and include configuring and enriching Evergreen so that it fits well into the geographic and situational environment in which it is used. The presentation will be based on our experience with translating Evergreen to Czech and using it in the Czech library landscape. This landscape differs from the one in Evergreen’s home United States not only in terms of language but also in terms of the range of UTF-8 characters used, currency, library staff expectations when it comes to cataloging interface or handling authority records, statistical data required by authorities or national projects in which libraries are usually involved, to name just the most significant differences.
Presenters: Eva Cerninakova, Head of Jabok Library and Linda Jansova, Vice-President of Osvobozena knihovna, z. s.
Welcome to Evergreen! (Slides) (Video)
New to the Evergreen Community? Join us for an introduction to how the Evergreen community works together to learn from each other and to continuously improve the software and documentation through The Evergreen Project governing board, interest groups, community activities like Bug Squashing Week, and coordinated development activities.
Presenters: Terran McCanna, PINES Program Manager, Georgia Public Library Service; Ruth Frasur, Evergreen Development and Support Administrator, Indiana State Library; Jason Boyer, Senior System Administrator, Equinox Open Library Initiative
12:00 to 12:50 p.m. (ET)
Student Success Interest Group
Open discussion on everything related to academic libraries
Presenter: Elizabeth Thomsen, Member Services Manager, NOBLE: North of Boston Library Exchange
Train up Catalogers in the Way They Should Go — Rethinking Permissions, Education, and Certification (Slides) (Video)
Pennsylvania’s Evergreen Consortium recently completed a lengthy project of restructuring our cataloging permissions. During the process, we also developed cataloger training courses, and created a rudimentary certification system. In this session, we will share the lessons we learned along the way, and offer suggestions for other consortiums that may be considering large-scale changes.
Presenter: Jonathan Moore, Cataloger, Wyomissing Public Library
1:00 to 1:50 p.m. (ET)
Curbside and Other Delivery and Outreach Ideas (Slides-SPARK) (Slides-PINES) (Slides-Patron View) (Video)
The curbside module will be demonstrated and there will be discussion of other delivery and outreach ideas. What creative ideas has your library tried for continuing to serve patrons in the last year?
Presenters: Jennifer Bruch, Jennifer.Bruch@sparkpa.org, ILS Application Specialist, Pennsylvania Integrated Library System Dawn Dale, ddale@georgialibraries.org, PINES Services Specialist – Circulation, Georgia Public Library Service
Grow Your Own Evergreen! Exploring, Hacking, and Testing On Your Very Own Test System (Slides) (Video)
There are some excellent tools for automating the installation of Evergreen that have been developed by members of the Evergreen community. There are also many options for creating virtual machines that can run locally on your workstation. With a little experience and determination, you can soon have a running Evergreen system on which you can explore features, test and sign off on Launchpad bugs and develop your own enhancements and bug fixes.
Presenter: Michele Morgan, Technical Support Analyst, NOBLE
2:00 to 2:30 p.m. (ET)
Break / Exhibitor Time
Exhibitor booth hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12pm – 4pm Eastern Time
2:30 to 3:00 p.m. (ET)
Lightning Talks (Video)
Documentation Interest Group – Slides
3:00 to 3:50 p.m. (ET)
Ask Not What Evergreen Can Do For You (Slides) (Video)
A panel discussion of the wranglers of the Outreach, Cataloging, New Dev, Reports, Student Success and Acquisition interest groups discussing how people can become involved in the community and groups.
Presenters: Rogan Hamby (Outreach), Jennifer Weston (Cataloging), Terran McCanna (New Developers), Jessica Woolford (Reports), Elizabeth Thomsen (Student Success), Tiffany Little (Acquisitions)
Consortium Leaders’ Interest Group
Round table opportunity for consortia leaders to get together and talk about issues we all may face.
Presenter: Benjamin Murphy, NC Cardinal Program Manager
4:00 to 4:50 p.m. (ET)
Cataloging Interest Group (Notes)
Annual Cataloging Interest Group meeting to review the past year, highlight recent Evergreen developments, and plan projects for the upcoming year with time for general discussion. The meeting is open to anyone interested in Cataloging topics.
Presenter: J. Elaine Hardy, PINES and Collaborative Projects Manager; Jennifer Weston, Product and Education Specialist, Equinox Open Library Initiative
Unpredictability is the New Predictability: Evergreen Serials Module Walkthrough (Slides) (Video)
From creating a new Serial Item Template to receiving an issuance, this session will be a complete walkthrough of the Evergreen Serials Interface. This presentation will focus on one Serials workflow and adding a special issue.
Presenter: Erica Rohlfs, Senior Implementation Project Manager, Equinox Open Library Initiative
5:00 to 5:50 p.m. (ET)
The Angular Files: New Interfaces Around the Corner
Review of some new Angular interfaces in development, from patron interfaces and holds, to acquisitions and cataloging. My plan is for this to be a practical session, where I demo new interfaces and request input on some of the newer ones that I can fold back into the development process.
Presenter: Bill Erickson, King County Library System
7:00 p.m. (ET)
Virtual Social Hour
Unwind at our virtual social hour! Hopin will have different sessions set up for free, online board games, Jackbox Party, and an open space to chat. Board game rooms will include instructions and private rooms for Evergreen Conference attendees.
Thursday, May 27
11:00 to 11:50 a.m. (ET)
Acquisitions Interest Group
Open discussion on topics related to Acquisitions and introduction to the regular Acquisitions Interest Group meetings
Presenters: Tiffany Little, Georgia Public Library Service
The First Year (Slides) (Video)
A discussion on the things I have learned the first year as a System Administrator.
Presenter: Lynn Floyd, MIS Director, Indiana State Library, Evergreen Indiana
12:00 to 12:50 p.m. (ET)
Circulation Interest Group
Open discussion of anything circulation related. Problems, ideas, workflows, etc.
Presenter: Dawn Dale, PINES Services Specialist – Circulation. Georgia Public Library Service
Acquisitions Workflow Roundtable (Video)
Whether your library is using the acquisitions module or you are just curious about its functionality– this session is for you! Join us to learn how libraries of all sizes are using the acquisitions module to track selection and purchasing in Evergreen. This roundtable panel will discuss various workflows for ordering, receiving, and invoicing in Evergreen. We will also have time for Q&A– bring your questions!
Presenters: Sarah Childs, Technical Services Department Head, Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library; Jennifer Pringle, Co-op Support – Training Lead, BC Libraries Cooperative; Angela Kilsdonk, Product and Training Manager, Equinox Open Library Initiative
1:00 to 1:50 p.m. (ET)
STAFF_CHR: Standing Penalties and Group Penalty Thresholds (Slides) (Video)
What exactly does STAFF_CHR mean, anyway? In this presentation, we’ll explore the Standing Penalties and Group Penalty Threshold modules. This presentation is meant to help circulation end users understand why they see some of the penalties that they see on patron accounts, and the different ways these penalties can affect those accounts.
Presenter: Erica Rohlfs, Senior Implementation Project Manager, Equinox Open Library Initiative
Intro to Launchpad (Handout) (Video)
New to the Evergreen community and want to contribute? Launchpad is the central location for bug and wish list reporting and tracking. This session will familiarize you with the interface, the general standards we follow when reporting, tagging, and commenting, and how to interpret what different statuses mean. We’ll also talk about the Bug Squashing Weeks and Feedback Fests we hold each year so that you will be prepared to help test bug fixes and new features.
Presenter: Terran McCanna, PINES Program Manager, Georgia Public Library Service
2:00 to 2:30 p.m. (ET)
Break / Exhibitor Time
Exhibitor booth hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12pm – 4pm Eastern Time
2:30 to 3:20 p.m. (ET)
Catalogers Organizing Locally (Video)
The Cataloging Working Group is pleased to present a roundtable discussion about local Cataloging Committees organized within a public library consortium. Representatives from PINES, NC Cardinal, and C/W MARS will discuss the work of their local cataloging committees with a focus on structure, communication, best practices, training, and future goals.
Presenters: J. Elaine Hardy, PINES and Collaborative Projects Manager; Jessica Philyaw, Assistant County Librarian and Technical Services Supervisor, Jackson County Public Library, NC; Janet Schrader, Bibliographic Services Supervisor, C/W MARS; Jennifer Weston, Cataloging Working Group Facilitator
Reports Interest Group
The Reports Interest Group will meet to discuss all things Evergreen reports!
Presenter: Jessica Woolford, Evergreen Systems Manager, Bibliomation, Inc
3:30 to 4:20 p.m. (ET)
Batches, Baskets, Buckets, Bookbags, and Carousels (Slides) (Video)
Overview of the different ways to work with batches of items and bibs in Evergreen, including item status batches, item and record buckets, My Lists/Bookbags, and carousels with lots of examples and tips and tricks.
Presenter: Elizabeth Thomsen, Member Services Manager, NOBLE: North of Boston Library Exchange
Beyond the Stand Alone Bib (Slides) (Video)
Join us for forty-five minutes guaranteed to be of no interest to non-catalogers as we explain some ideas related to bibs that may not be obvious such as parts, peers, transcendence, and how exactly do volumes fit in the picture? We will also touch on how Evergreen calculates attributes such as search formats, how located URIs work, and how do booking materials fit into things. This presentation is an introduction to the above concepts in cataloging for Evergreen end users.
Presenters: Rogan Hamby, Data and Project Analyst, Equinox Open Library Initiative; Jennifer Weston, Product and Education Specialist, Equinox Open Library Initiative
4:30 to 5:20 p.m. (ET)
Implications of Earwyrms for Evergreen Metadata (Slides) (Video)
Library metadata can be full of dragons if not carefully tended to. Letting the weeds grow can end in the rise of that most dangerous of Data Dragon, the dreaded Earwrym. During this presentation, Galen Charlton will demonstrate tools and techniques for identifying, measuring, and fixing problems with metadata in your Evergreen catalog. He will cover a wide range of data issues from incomplete records, bad fixed field values, and record duplication. Attendees will leave the session knowing about practical approaches that can be used right now to address data issues. Attendees will also be invited to start a conversation about the future of data maintenance in Evergreen.
Presenter: Galen Charlton, Implementation and IT Manager, Equinox Open Library Initiative
Let’s Take a Spin! Using Carousels in Your Library (Slides) (Video)
See how Burlington Public Library implemented carousels and how patrons have responded.
Presenters: Millissa Macomber, Technical Services Associate, Burlington Public Library; Rachel Gage, Cataloger/ILL Coordinator, Burlington Public Library
5:30 p.m. (ET)
Closing Remarks and Developers’ Update – (Developer Update Slides) (Video)
Friday, May 28 (Hackfest)
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (ET)
Development Hackfest
Hackfest room open all day for drop in collaboration for developers.
Documentation Hackfest
Hackfest room open all day for drop in collaboration on community documentation.