Features in the Evergreen library system software are assisting libraries using Evergreen cope with the evolving service landscape forced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evergreen's Emergency Closing Handler enables libraries to quickly and easily shift due dates and hold shelf expiry dates to the next day the library is open and not increment fines while the library is closed. Settings can be different for different branches and locations in a library system. The Evergreen system can also extend patron expiration dates and hold expiration, presently requiring separate administrator actions, but targeted for adding to the Emergency Closing Handler in a later release.

The pandemic has forced the cancellation of the annual Evergreen International Conference in late April, but a virtual conference is being planned to capture the community energy and cooperation that helps to make Evergreen the leading ILS for consortia and used by over 2,000 libraries around the world in late May.

During the shutdowns, libraries, organizations and individuals that improve and support Evergreen are continuing to do just that, with the next new software release, 3.5, expected in late April.

Evergreen is open-source software, available to all to download at no cost from the Evergreen web site at https://evergreen-ils.org/ Evergreen is highly-scalable software that helps patrons find library materials and helps libraries manage, catalog, and circulate those materials, no matter how large or complex the libraries.