NEWS
Ex Libris/ProQuest’s first move into public libraries
THE market for library technology products, particularly in UK Higher Education, has been consolidated by the purchase of Innovative by Ex Libris, itself owned by ProQuest. Together it is believed that Ex Libris and Innovative will cover more than 50 per cent of the UK HE library systems market – 36.3 per cent and 18.1 per cent respec- tively. Innovative also has clients in the US public library sector, broadening Ex Libris and ProQuest’s scope into this area. According to American Libraries magazine Innovative’s position in the academic market has been shrinking but
said its “base spans all types of libraries, its position with public libraries makes its acquisition by Ex Libris especially notable. Nearly 64 per cent of libraries using Sierra (one of its products) and almost all those using Polaris are public libraries, so this acquisition gives Ex Libris a strong entry into the public library sector.” Ex Libris president Bar Veinstein said: “I am excited to welcome Innovative’s expe- rienced team and its customer community to Ex Libris and ProQuest. We are pleased to continue investing in people and technology that support our customers’ initiatives to shape the future of libraries. Customers of both Ex Libris and Innova-
tive will gain from the companies’ proven record of innovation, greater combined resources, and talent with decades of library domain expertise.” Shaheen Javadizadeh, Innovative CEO
said: “These are exciting times for Innova- tive and its customers. As we join the Ex Libris family, we will continue our history of providing advanced solutions and services to our customers that help them thrive in today’s changing library environ- ment” adding “As part of Ex Libris, we will give our customers more value through a complementary portfolio of solutions, an expanded knowledge-sharing community, and broader global reach.”
Buyers face public scrutiny in Essex
ESSEX County Council has been in the headlines for many months as library campaigners have so-far successfully curtailed council plans to close 25 libraries.
However the debate reached a more technical level as councillors questioned the decision-making process for purchas- ing a new system.
In July the council approved plans to invest £3 million to improve the library service including new technology for managing stock and customer data with a view to encouraging new users.
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According to Essex Live, Councillor Stephen Hillier said: “My thoughts are that quite often a small cabal sitting in a backroom designing a system, doesn’t necessarily get the right system and I wonder if this committee ought to have sight of the specification before the imple- mentation gets too far down the road.” Juliet Pirez, head of libraries at Essex, said: “We have a system that’s clunky and out of date and really expensive and it is a combination of add ons. Any changes we have wanted to make to it since 1994 has been added on at a very expensive cost. So
this is our chance to put that to one side. “We are looking at different options including a consortium option which would give us lots more stock and services than we have at the moment. I can guarantee that anything we get will be cheaper than what we are paying for now and it will be more modern than the system we have now.” She said: “The idea is that our libraries become community hubs and they attract a wider and more diverse audience. We need to use this money to create a more comfortable and practical space for every- one in the community.”
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