June 22, 2011
The new group will advise Ex Libris on the governance of Alma’s vast shared bibliographic records Jerusalem, Israel—June 22, 2011. Ex Libris® Group, a world leader in the provision of library automation solutions, is pleased to announce that it has brought together an international group of renowned library experts who will provide input during the formation of the Alma Community Zone, a catalog of bibliographic records shared by all libraries that are using the Alma library management service. The Community Zone is tightly integrated into Alma workflows, enabling libraries to work directly in a collaborative environment. Libraries are encouraged to contribute records to this open environment, without limiting the records’ terms of use. Side by side with the Community Zone is the Library Zone, a catalog for each library, in which the library stores the records over which it wants to exercise local stewardship. In this hybrid environment, libraries can leverage community expertise and streamline their processes while maintaining control over unique local resources. Members of the Alma Community Zone Advisory Group will provide guidance to Ex Libris on policies, standards, and procedures that should be used in the governance and stewardship of metadata records that reside in the Community Zone. The advisory group consists of the following members: Karen Coyle, an independent consultant and cataloging expert, commented: ”Absolutely key to the success of libraries as modern information resources is our right to disseminate library data freely and without constraints on its use. A close second is the actual ability to do so easily and affordably from our library systems.” ”We are thrilled to be working closely with such preeminent experts in the field of bibliographic data and cataloging, who will help forge the Alma Community Zone into a powerful shared resource for libraries around the world,” noted Susan Stearns, vice president of strategic partnerships at Ex Libris. ”By helping create the governing principles of the Community Zone, this new group will play a pivotal role in helping us achieve one of Alma’s most important objectives—optimizing library operations via collaborative networks.” About Ex Libris Dedicated to developing creative solutions in close collaboration with customers, Ex Libris enables academic, national, and research libraries to maximize productivity and efficiency and, at the same time, greatly enhance the user experience. By empowering users to discover and obtain the information they need, libraries ensure their position as the bridge to knowledge. For more information about Ex Libris Group, see our Web site, join us on Facebook, visit our Commentary blog, and follow our Twitter page.
Ex Libris is a leading provider of automation solutions for academic libraries. Offering the only comprehensive product suite for electronic, digital, and print materials, Ex Libris provides efficient, user-friendly products that serve the needs of libraries today and will facilitate their transition into the future. Ex Libris maintains an impressive customer base consisting of thousands of sites in more than 80 countries on six continents.
