Crawfordsville District Public Library will soon be part of the Evergreen Indiana Library Consortium. Beginning May 19, CDPL patrons will have access to nearly 8 million items from more than 130 libraries across Indiana with their library card.
Our library’s mission is to provide collections, services and programs that encourage the love of reading and learning in our community. Joining Evergreen supports this mission in a big way by giving our community easier access to even more books and materials to read, learn and grow.
Patrons of Evergreen libraries can use their card to borrow materials from other member libraries. This means that you can use your CDPL card to request and borrow books, movies, music and more seamlessly from any other participating library in Indiana. Additionally, joining the consortium saves the library more than $16,000 per year on our cataloging system, giving the community more for less.
After joining Evergreen, our new online catalog will show materials from CDPL as well as other Evergreen libraries so that you can easily see and request consortium items to pick up at our library from the holds shelf. Courier service to deliver requested items will happen twice a week. The total check-out limit will increase to 100 items at a time with some limitations to specific items. Some checkout limits will be changed to match Evergreen policies. Most items check out for either 21 days (books) or seven days (media such as DVDs), with one or two renewals available.
All current library accounts will be automatically transferred to the Evergreen system, and our library will continue to offer all of the same great services as before, such as computer access, printing, and access to Libby and our other digital resources. We will also continue to be fine-free, meaning you won’t have to worry about late fees for materials borrowed at our library.
As we begin the transition, our online catalog will be unavailable from May 13-18. In-person item checkout will still be possible, but making account changes, paying fees, and placing holds will not be available on those dates. Your reading history in our current catalog will no longer be accessible and will not carry forward. Ask our first floor Circulation staff before May 13 and we can print your list out for you!
The library will be closed May 18 for staff training. We plan to reopen on May 19 with our new Evergreen online catalog ready to use. Current patrons can pick up their new Evergreen card and update the password for their accounts anytime on or after May 19 during our open hours. Library staff will be available and happy to help with any questions regarding changes to your account and how to navigate the new system. We hope our patrons enjoy the benefits that this lending consortium brings to our community.
Megan Taylor is assistant manager in the Adult Services Department of the Crawfordsville District Public Library.
