January 20, 2015
A technology pioneer, the University of Haifa is the first institution in Israel to choose Alma to transform library operations for current and future users
Jerusalem, Israel—January 20, 2015. Ex Libris® Group, a world leader in the provision of library technology solutions, is pleased to announce that the University of Haifa’s Younes and Soraya Nazarian Library is the first early adopter in Israel of the Alma® library management solution. Haifa University will be replacing the Aleph® integrated library system. Alma will be integrated with the University Library’s Primo® discovery and delivery solution—for which the library developed a Hebrew interface in cooperation with Ex Libris.
Provided on a SaaS basis, Alma automates and streamlines all library operations, including order management and acquisition, catalogue management, metadata management, and digitization, for the full range of bibliographic resources—regardless of their location or format. Haifa University was keen to adopt a cloud-based solution that would enable staff members to direct their resources towards supporting users in learning, research, and teaching.
”The University of Haifa has always been a pioneering library in Israel in terms of adopting new technologies,” commented Pnina Erez, Library Director of the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Library. ”As with our decision to adopt all other Ex Libris solutions, being at the frontier of early adopters for Alma will provide a great opportunity to bring innovation into the library.”
Naomi Greidinger, Deputy Library Director, added: ”Together with Ex Libris, we are looking forward to refining Alma to suit the unique multicultural needs of Haifa University’s diverse user community, and ensuring that Alma meets the needs of other institutions in Israel. The University of Haifa library has always recognized the need to improve library automation and enhance librarians’ work through technologies.”
Matti Shem Tov, CEO and president of Ex Libris, remarked: ”The decision by Haifa University to adopt Alma is an exciting milestone for Ex Libris. Our close partners for over 20 years, we anticipate that Haifa will take every advantage of Alma’s unified workflows, collaborative capabilities, and insightful analytics to strengthen their library operations. Our vision for libraries to support and further their institutions’ strategic objectives is being realized in universities and research organizations worldwide.”
About the University of Haifa Library
The University of Haifa’s Younes and Soraya Nazarian Library has a worldwide reputation as a leading library in Israel and is known for the quality of its collections, technologies, service, and outstanding professional staff.
The University of Haifa Central Library, which houses over 2 million items, offers its varied audiences a wide range of library resources: an extensive, growing collection of printed materials and digital assets (electronic databases, electronic journals, and digital images), supported by advanced storage and retrieval technology, and reference and instructional services. The library initiates and focuses on the development, digitization and preservation of special collections, related to cultural heritage: historical photographs of the Land of Israel, and archives of Israeli theater and performing arts.
About Ex Libris
Ex Libris is a leading provider of automation solutions for academic, national, and research 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 90 countries on six continents.
Dedicated to developing creative solutions in close collaboration with customers, Ex Libris enables 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.
