Happy Third Birthday, Evergreen Indiana

Today in Library History:  On August 25, 2008, the Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library in Zionsville, Indiana, became the first library to migrate its online catalog system to the Evergreen Indiana open-source ILS (integrated library system).  Seventeen libraries followed by January, 2009, including my Library (in October, 2008).  Today, Evergreen Indiana (E.I.) includes a consortium of over 90 public, school, institutional, or research libraries across the state.  The E.I. online catalog encompasses over 6.2 million items for 821,000 Hoosier residents.

That, quite simply, is a pretty amazing achievement, considering that Evergreen Indiana is still, technically, a post-toddler (being a three-year-old, after all).  Not many youngsters accomplish so much so soon.  Unless, of course, you're a cat.

In an email CircMaster asked, "Where is the birthday cake?"  Where, indeed.  This is a celebration of monumental importance in the Hoosier library world (and well beyond, I imagine).  I'd like tuna-flavored icing on mine, if you please.

It would not be a bona fide birthday celebration without the Beatles.

"Birthday," from the Beatles "White Album" (1968)

Learn more about Evergreen Indiana by visiting the Indiana State Library website.

My Library has made some promo trailers about Evergreen Indiana.  You may have seen them before in my previous postings, but a good video deserves a reprise.

Most everybody has seen my Library's video parody of Taio Cruz's Dynamite (2010).  Produced, written, and directed by Broadway Gal, our version is much better than the Cruz original, in my not-so-humble opinion.

Librarians Do Taio Cruz, by Mooresville Public Library

My Library also mentioned E.I. in its "Got Access" promo trailer.

Got Access?  You Should

North Webster (Indiana) Community Public Library featured Evergreen Indiana in its 2010 "Twelve Days of Christmas" video.

My question to the Indiana State Library is this:  Why no official Evergreen Indiana video?  If one is in the works, then I might suggest a celebrity presence (moi) that would surely boost viewership.

Happy Third Birthday, Evergreen Indiana!

Cauli Le Chat

MPL Roving Reporter

Birthday News Beat

P.S.  Another grand birthday song is "It's My Party," by Lesley Gore (1963).  Don't let a dopey ex-boyfriend spoil your birthday party, is my advice.  Just saying.  (The song was written in 1962 by John Gluck, Wally Gold, and Herb Weiner, and Lesley Gore's version topped the U.S. pop and R & B music charts.)