Ex Libris Group#History

Ex Libris started as an internal project at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1980 to develop a new library management system, as no system at the time was able to handle both Hebrew and Latin character sets as required by the university. The software was called Automated Library Expandable Program or ALEPH-100 ("Aleph" is also the name of the first letter of many Semitic alphabets).{{cite journal

|url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/features/instant-access-distant-library/98933.article

|title=Instant access, distant library

|date=13 November 1995

|first=Helena |last=Flusfeder

|journal=Times Higher Education}} In 1983, Yissum (the technology transfer company of the Hebrew University) founded Aleph-Yissum Ltd., a new company to commercialize the software. Yohanan Spruch, the original developer of ALEPH, became the company's chief technology officer. Between 1983 and 1988, all eight Israeli universities bought the program and linked up in a network.

In 1986 Ex Libris Ltd. was founded by technology entrepreneur Azriel Morag to market the software overseas. In 1993, ALEPH was deployed by the seventeen libraries of the Vatican{{cite journal

|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-14668043.html

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611111214/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-14668043.html

|url-status=dead

|archive-date=11 June 2014

|title=Aleph computerizes the Vatican

|journal=Israel Business Today

|date=22 October 1993}}

and 200 libraries in 27 countries had bought it by 1995.

In 1995 Aleph-Yissum merged with Ex Libris Ltd. and reorganized as the Ex Libris Group, headed by Azriel Morag as the group's chief executive officer.{{cite web

|url=http://www.walden.co.il/pages/ShowPort.asp?Id=152

|title=Walden Israel Venture Capital portfolio

|access-date=2014-04-03

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407084851/http://www.walden.co.il/pages/ShowPort.asp?Id=152

|archive-date=2014-04-07

|url-status=dead

}}

In July 1997, Ex Libris acquired Dabis, a leading vendor of automated library systems in the German speaking countries.{{cite journal

|url=http://www.librarytechnology.org/ltg-displaytext.pl?RC=5577

|title=Ex Libris purchases Dabis

|journal=Library Systems Newsletter

|date=July 1997|volume=17

|issue=7

|page=57

}}

In 1998, venture capital funds Walden Israel and Tamar Ventures invested over $4m in Ex Libris.{{Cite web|url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-1000167917|title=Ex Libris buys US competitor Endeavor - Globes|website=Globes|date=31 December 2006 |language=he|access-date=2018-08-08}}

In February 2000, Ex Libris acquired the rights to SFX, an OpenURL link server software, from the University of Ghent.{{Cite news|url=https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/proquest-to-acquire-ex-libris/|title=ProQuest to Acquire Ex Libris {{!}} American Libraries Magazine|work=American Libraries Magazine|access-date=2018-08-08|language=en-US}}{{cite journal

|url=http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/2957396/ex-libris-acquires-sfx-linking-software

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407084820/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/2957396/ex-libris-acquires-sfx-linking-software

|url-status=dead

|archive-date=2014-04-07

|title=Ex Libris acquires SFX linking software

|date=April 2000

|journal=Computers in Libraries

|volume=20 |issue=4

|page=12}} Ex Libris popularized OpenURL, which later became the ANSI/NISO Z39.88 standard in the information industry.{{Cite web|url=https://lj.libraryjournal.com/2004/04/ljarchives/the-lure-of-linking/#_|title=Library Journal|website=lj.libraryjournal.com|access-date=2018-08-08}}

In July 2000, Ex Libris launched MetaLib, a federated search system that conducts simultaneous searches in multiple information resources such as library catalogs, journal articles, newspapers.{{cite web

|url=http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/4310/1/4310.pdf

|title=Implementing cross-search tools: challenges and opportunities

|first=Margaret |last=Flett

|publisher=UCL Library Services}}

In August 2002, Ex Libris launched DigiTool, a full function, digital asset management system designed for libraries and information centers.{{Cite web|url=http://john.curtin.edu.au/40thanniversary/2002-2012_operations2.html|title=1992-2001: Library management systems|website=john.curtin.edu.au|access-date=2018-08-08}}

In 2004, Ex Libris launched Verde, an electronic resource management system that manages the acquisition and licensing of electronic resources.{{cite journal

|title=Developing an Electronic Resource Management System: Verde from Ex Libris

|first=Tamar

|last=Sadeh

|journal=LIBER Quarterly

|volume=14

|issue=3/4

|year=2004

|doi=10.18352/lq.7783

|doi-access=free

}}

In July 2006, Francisco Partners became the sole owner of Ex Libris Group.{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/1.4869414|title=Francisco Partners Buying Ex Libris for $62 Million|date=2006-07-25|work=Haaretz|access-date=2018-08-08|language=en}} In November of that year, Endeavor, the developer of the Voyager integrated library system, was merged into Ex Libris.{{Cite web|url=https://librarytechnology.org/vendors/exlibris/|title=Ex Libris company profile|website=librarytechnology.org|language=en|access-date=2018-08-08}}

In May 2007, Ex Libris launched the Primo library discovery and delivery service.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-NmWY0NiMMcC&q=ex+libris+primo+2007&pg=PA254|title=Planning and Implementing Resource Discovery Tools in Academic Libraries|last=Pagliero|first=Popp, Mary|date=2012-06-30|publisher=IGI Global|isbn=9781466618220|language=en}}

In August 2008, Leeds Equity Partners acquired Ex Libris Group.{{Cite web|url=http://en.globes.co.il/en/article-1000369127|title=Ex Libris bought by New York private equity firm - Globes|website=Globes|date=6 August 2008 |language=he|access-date=2018-08-08}}

In May 2009, Ex Libris launched the bX recommender service, which provides library users with recommendations for scholarly articles.{{Cite journal|last=Breeding|first=Marshall|date=2009-06-01|title=bX Recommender Service Now Available from Ex Libris|url=https://librarytechnology.org/document/14580|journal=Smart Libraries Newsletter|language=en|volume=29|issue=6}} Also in 2009, Rosetta was introduced as a digital preservation and asset management application.{{Cite news|url=https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2018/05/01/library-systems-report-2018/|title=Library Systems Report 2018 {{!}} American Libraries Magazine|date=2018-05-01|work=American Libraries Magazine|access-date=2018-08-08|language=en-US}}

In January 2011, in collaboration with four development partners, the company released the Ex Libris Alma library management system, the first SaaS cloud-based library services platform, representing the company's shift from an on-premise to a SaaS technology provider.{{Cite web|url=http://www.yedatech.co.il/yt/news.jhtml?value=9878|title=ידעטק {{!}} Ex Libris חושפת את ALMA - פתרון מבוסס ענן לניהול ספריות|website=www.yedatech.co.il|access-date=2018-08-08}}

Golden Gate Capital acquired Ex Libris in 2012.{{Cite web|last=Hane|first=Paula J.|date=2012-11-19|title=Golden Gate Capital Acquires Ex Libris Group|url=http://newsbreaks.infotoday.com/NewsBreaks/Golden-Gate-Capital-Acquires-Ex-Libris-Group-86231.asp|access-date=2021-03-19|website=newsbreaks.infotoday.com}}

Ex Libris acquired oMbiel and its product campusM, a mobile campus platform, in April 2015, marking the company's expansion to educational technology outside libraries.{{Cite web|url=https://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/04/technology/ex-libris-acquires-ombiel-establishes-mobile-campus-solutions-division/|title=Library Journal|website=lj.libraryjournal.com|access-date=2018-08-08}}

Leganto, the company's reading list management application, built on the Alma cloud platform, was launched in 2015, and was Ex Libris' entry into the teaching and learning domain.{{Cite news|url=https://www.informazione.it/c/E194DAA8-A338-4628-BF9E-76C8206CF8EA/ProQuest-and-Ex-Libris-Join-to-Accelerate-Innovation-for-Libraries-Worldwide|title=ProQuest and Ex Libris Join to Accelerate Innovation for Libraries Worldwide|date=2015-10-06|work=Informazione - Comunicati Stampa|access-date=2018-08-08|language=it-IT}}

In December 2015, ProQuest acquired Ex Libris.{{Cite news|url=http://nocamels.com/2015/10/proquest-acquires-israeli-firm-ex-libris/|title=ProQuest Buys Israeli Ex Libris For $500M {{!}} Technology News|date=2015-10-07|work=NoCamels - Israeli Innovation News|access-date=2018-08-08|language=en-US}} It was announced at that time that Ex Libris would also manage the products of the Workflow Solutions division of ProQuest,{{cite journal |last=Breeding |first=Marshall |date=6 October 2015 |title=ProQuest to Acquire Ex Libris |url=http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/proquest-to-acquire-ex-libris/ |journal=American Libraries |location=Chicago |publisher=American Library Association}} such as Intota, Summon, and 360 Link.{{cite web |url= http://www.proquest.com/blog/pqblog/2015/ProQuest-and-Ex-Libris-Join-to-Bring-More-Choices-to-Libraries.html?WT.dcsvid=MzU0Njg2Mzg1ODAS1& |title=ProQuest and Ex Libris Join to Bring More Choices to Libraries |first=Kurt |last=Sanford |date=15 December 2015 |work=ProQuest Blog |accessdate=23 February 2016|via=ProQuest }}

In February 2018, Ex Libris partnered with five universities across the US to collaborate on the development of a new research services platform, Ex Libris Esploro. It was the company's first step into the research services market.{{Cite news|url=http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/five-partners-join-ex-libris-in-developing-new-research-services-platform-1015123216|title=Five Partners Join Ex Libris in Developing New Research Services Platform {{!}} Markets Insider|last=GmbH|first=finanzen.net|work=markets.businessinsider.com|access-date=2018-08-08}} The company provides services to thousands of customers in more than 90 countries.{{Cite news|url=https://www.themarker.com/technation/1.2745495|title=עסקת ענק: פרוקווסט האמריקאית רוכשת את אקס ליבריס הישראלית בכחצי מיליארד דולר|last=אורפז|first=ענבל|date=2015-10-06|work=TheMarker|access-date=2018-08-08}} As of 2015, Ex Libris served 43 of the 50 top universities in the world. Over 40 national libraries use Ex Libris solutions.{{Cite news|url=https://www.geektime.com/2015/10/08/proquest-acquires-israeli-company-ex-libris-for-500-million/|title=ProQuest acquires Israeli company Ex Libris for $500 million|date=2015-10-08|work=Geektime|access-date=2018-08-08|language=en-US|archive-date=2019-07-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704110256/https://www.geektime.com/2015/10/08/proquest-acquires-israeli-company-ex-libris-for-500-million/|url-status=dead}}

In August 2018, Ex Libris acquired Research Research Limited (known as *Research), which offers coverage of funding opportunities and publishes news and analysis of research politics and funding in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.{{Cite journal|last=Breeding|first=Marshall|date=2018-09-01|title=Ex Libris Expands Learning and Research Division|url=https://journals.ala.org/index.php/sln|journal=Smart Libraries Newsletter|language=en|volume=38|issue=9}}

In June 2019, Ex Libris acquired RapidILL, which had been developed by Colorado State University.{{Cite web|url=https://www.exlibrisgroup.com/press-release/ex-libris-acquires-rapidill-provider-of-leading-resource-sharing-solutions/|title=Ex Libris Acquires RapidILL, Provider of Leading Resource-Sharing Solutions|website=Ex Libris|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-06}} In December 2019, Ex Libris agreed to acquire Innovative Interfaces (III).{{Cite web|url=https://www.iii.com/media/ex-libris-signs-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-innovative/|title=Ex Libris Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Innovative|website=Innovative Interfaces Inc.|date=6 December 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-06}}

Looking at academic libraries in the United States, by 2020 Ex Libris held a 49 percent market share of that domain, with that share consisting of its Alma, Voyager, and Aleph ILS products.{{cite news | url=https://librarytechnology.org/document/25243 | title= Market Share Dynamics: US Public and Academic Libraries | work=Smart Libraries Newsletter | date=June 2020 | author-first= Marshall | author-last=Breeding }}

In May 2021, Clarivate acquired ProQuest/Ex Libris.{{Cite web|url=https://exlibrisgroup.com/press-release/clarivate-to-acquire-proquest/|title=Clarivate to Acquire ProQuest, Creating a Leading Global Provider of Mission Critical Information and Data-Driven Solutions for Science and Research|website=Ex Libris|language=en-US|access-date=2022-03-31}}

Matti Shem Tov was the president and CEO of Ex Libris from 2003 to 2017. He was appointed as CEO of ProQuest in November 2017, and Bar Veinstein took over as president of Ex Libris at that time. In late 2021 Oded Scharfstein was appointed President of Ex Libris. In January 2022 Ofer Mosseri replaced Sharfstein as the General Manager of Ex Libris.

• Alma: A SaaS Library Services Platform (LSP), released by company in 2012
• Primo: Discovery service released in 2006{{cite web |title=insource:"primo.exlibrisgroup.com" |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?search=insource%3A%22primo.exlibrisgroup.com%22 |website=en.wikipedia.org - Search results - Wikipedia |access-date=6 September 2023 |language=en}}
• Summon: Index-based discovery service. Launched in January 2009
• Rosetta: Digital preservation and asset management platform, launched in 2009
• Leganto: Reading list management application launched in 2015
• campusM: Mobile campus app platform for academic institutions, acquired in 2015
• Esploro: Research services platform launched in February 2018
• 360 Link: Link resolver and knowledge base product
• 360 Resource Manager: Library content management
• Refworks: Citation and reference management software
• Pivot: Comprehensive resource for finding funding opportunities available to researchers
• Aleph: Original integrated library system (ILS)
• Voyager: Integrated library services platform (ILS), acquired by Ex Libris in November 2006
• DigiTool: Digital asset management system
• bX: Scholarly article recommender service
• Verde: E system
• SFX: OpenURL link resolver software
• MetaDoor - The Open Metadata Platform, in development as of 2022

{{reflist|2}}

• [https://librarytechnology.org/vendors/exlibris/ Library Technology Guides profile]

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Category:1986 establishments in Israel

Category:Companies established in 1986

Category:Library automation

Category:Library-related organizations

Category:Privately held companies of Israel

Category:Companies based in Jerusalem

Category:ProQuest

Category:Mergers and acquisitions of Israeli companies

Category:Software companies of Israel