The cloud-based SaaS has demonstrated successes with complex
consortial systems and will achieve OhioLINK's user-centered
vision
LONDON, Aug. 16,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- OhioLINK, Ohio's academic library consortium, announces
the selection of Ex Libris Alma, part of Clarivate™ (NYSE: CLVT),
as the consortium's next shared library services platform. The new
cloud-based platform will enhance library user experiences and
services, improve efficiencies for day-to-day operations, and
streamline collaboration and consortial functionality. The
implementation process for OhioLINK's 117 member libraries is
expected to take up to two years.
In addition to Alma, OhioLINK will implement Primo VE and a
suite of related products, including Leganto, Rapido, and Library
Mobile, that will enhance services for users, library staff, and
administration. Leganto will add core integration with on-campus
learning management systems.
"This investment bolsters Ohio's higher education technology
infrastructure," said Randy Gardner,
Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE).
OhioLINK is a member of the Ohio Technology Consortium, a division
of ODHE. "Supporting our academic libraries' expanded role in
educating students and R&D innovation in fields such as
biomedicine, agriculture, and advanced manufacturing is
essential."
OhioLINK's Executive Director Amy
Pawlowski led the creation of the consortium's selection and
planning process and negotiated the contract for the new library
services platform.
"Libraries have made tremendous shifts to supporting research,
teaching, and learning through electronic resources over the last
20 years," Pawlowski said. "We are excited to be collaborating with
Ex Libris on a system that will manage the full range of our
collections, as well as expand services to support faculty and
students."
Ken Burhanna, Dean of Libraries
at Kent State University, served as
chair of OhioLINK's ILS Selection/Planning Team. "Our team's
decision was based in how well the systems met current and future
consortium and library needs, including the user-focused priorities
defined in OhioLINK's 2020 whitepaper," Burhanna said.
Yariv Kursh, Senior Vice
President and General Manager, Ex Libris and Innovative said, "It
is a testament to our partnership that OhioLINK has chosen to
extend our relationship beyond being an Innovative customer and
join the growing Alma community of over 2,500 institutions spanning
the globe.
"Our mission is to provide our customers more unified library
workflows by incorporating AI and Linked Data solutions that
make it easier for researchers, faculty, and patrons to take full
advantage of the libraries' extensive collections and the rich
metadata that surrounds them. We are delighted that OhioLINK is
joining us in this mission."
The OhioLINK consortium has worked for more than 30 years to
ensure that all member libraries have expanded access to shared
print and electronic resources at greatly reduced pricing. Capital
funding awarded in June
2022 leverages OhioLINK's cooperative purchasing power
and shared technical expertise for its 89 member
institutions.
About OhioLINK
Established in 1992, the Ohio Library and Information Network
(OhioLINK) is Ohio's statewide
academic library consortium. OhioLINK provides shared print and
digital resources that support research, teaching, and learning
through 117 libraries at 88 institutions of higher education and
the State Library of Ohio. In
addition, OhioLINK manages collaborative efforts aimed at reducing
the cost of higher education for students. OhioLINK is a member of
the Ohio Technology Consortium (OH-TECH) within the Ohio Department
of Higher Education. Learn more at OhioLINK.edu.
Media contact: rachel.scheer@clarivate.com
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SOURCE Clarivate Plc