December 1, 2005
Verona, Italy
Atlantis S.r.l., the distributor of Ex Libris products in Italy, is pleased to announce the signing of a contract with the Veneto University Area Network (Polo Universitario Veneto), for the supply of the ALEPH 500™ integrated library system. The Veneto University Area Network consists of the Library System of the University of Padova, and an additional 25 libraries in important cultural, scientific and governmental institutions. Founded in 1222 and one of the oldest universities in the world, the University of Padova has played a vital role in the cultural and scientific history of Italy since the time of Galileo Galilei, one of the Universitys many distinguished teachers. The Veneto University Area Network, and in particular the University, is a library automation pioneer in Italy, and was a partner in the creation of SBN, the National Bibliographic Service.
Last spring, the Veneto University Area Network issued a European tender for a new integrated library system. Competing with both international and national companies, Atlantis and ALEPH 500 were chosen, as ALEPH 500 provided an exact match to an extensive list of technical requisites for satisfying current and future needs, while Atlantis provided a comprehensive program for migration to ALEPH 500 and for the training of the staff in all the participating libraries.
Mr. Scolari, the director of CAB (University Center for Libraries) at Padova said: “With the choice of ALEPH 500, we are replacing our legacy system with a state-of-the-art system that complies with national and international standards, and that will let us maintain and expand the numerous services that we offer to our users. We are also very glad to be part of a large, important national and international community of users.
Our choice was also based on the assurance received from Atlantis and Ex Libris that our network can continue to collaborate and cooperate with the National Bibliographic Service, using the new communication protocol SBN-MARC.”
About the Veneto University Area Network:
The Veneto University Area Network is made up of the 54 libraries comprising the Library System of Padova University, as well as the libraries of the Ministry of Cultural Activities; the Ministry of Education, University and Research; the Episcopal Seminary; S. Antonio dottore Theological Institute; Don Mazza College; the Library of the Gas Ionizzati Institute of CNR; the Galileian Academy, the Ettore Luccini Studies Center; the Lanza Foundation; the Urban Library System of Padova; Istituto Veneto Storico della Resistenza; and Istituto Zooprofilattico.
The University of Padova is comprised of several campuses in and around Padova, currently offering studies in 13 faculties, for over 59,000 students. The extensive library catalog boasts valuable ancient book collections from the member libraries of the network. As a member of the CIPE consortium, the University has already installed Ex Libris’ SFX® and MetaLib®, to provide extended linking services and a library portal to their user community.
About Atlantis:
Atlantis S.r.l., founded in 1989, plays an eminent role in library automation for the academic community of Italy. Atlantis is devoted to the provision of integrated library systems, consultancy; training; migration and conversion processes; support and upgrading for over 60 important customers, among them 40 university library systems which in turn comprise more than 1,500 libraries.
About Ex Libris:
Ex Libris is a leading worldwide developer and provider of high-performance applications for libraries, information centers, and researchers. ALEPH, the Ex Libris integrated library solution, has been installed at over 1250 sites in 57 countries. MetaLib®, the information portal for library collections, and SFX®, the context-sensitive linking solution for heterogeneous electronic resources in the scholarly information environment, have collectively been purchased by more than 900 institutions in 36 countries. DigiTool, a solution for the construction of digital collections, and Verde, the new electronic resource management (ERM) system, round out the Ex Libris product suite.
