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Smarter Libraries Through Technology

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Smarter Libraries Through Technology Newsletter TM A LA TechSource alatechsource.org Formerly Library Systems Newsletter™ 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611-2795, USA expectations for their commercial partners. First, they require technology products and services consistent with their missions and values. Libraries, for example, value objective access to their content and services and work to safeguard the privacy of their clientele. These premises differ drastically from those that push advertising content and extract every possible detail of consumer identity and behaviors. It is also important to understand the non-exclusive manner in which libraries acquire products and services. Few libraries will be willing to channel all their funds toward any single provider. It’s essential to be able to procure content packages from a diverse set of providers in order to build collections well customized to the needs of their patrons and to purchase technology products and other supporting services that operate in a neutral way. Those individuals leading companies that work with libraries must have realistic expectations regarding library funding levels Smarter Libraries Through and what constitutes reasonable pricing for their products. Librar- ies generally have modest budgets, which unfortunately are barely Technology often able to afford even the bare essentials of what might be needed to support their missions. Companies that squeeze these Executive Perspectives budgets too hard will not stay in favor in the long term. It is also important for business strategies of library vendors to understand The library technology industry, as we have chronicled in Smart the long budget planning cycles typical in most libraries. Such an Libraries Newsletter, is increasingly dominated by a shrinking list environment defies sudden changes in pricing or expectations that of ever-larger corporations. Some of these organizations have libraries will be able to make purchases on short notice. broad portfolios of products, touching almost every aspect of Most of all, it is important for those in leadership positions library operations, content offerings, and services. Others remain in the library vendor community to understand the collabora- focused on technology products, but even here consolidation has tive flavor of libraries. Libraries will work with their peers to the ISSN 1541-8820 July 2017 Volume XXXVII Number 7 ISSN 1541-8820 July 2017 Volume made an enormous impact, and these companies work hard to extent possible to reduce their costs and to increase the impact create new products to penetrate into new areas of interest. As these organizations become larger with more complex and sophisticated product offerings, the strategies set at the top exec- utive level can have a crucial impact on the library communities they serve. Naturally, these executives are charged with operating IN THIS ISSUE their companies in a way that satisfies their owners, investors, and New Leadership for ProQuest and Ex Libris boards. But they must also shape their business model to be con- PAGE 2 ducive with their current and prospective library customers. It is important for executives in this industry to have insight Sierra Powers National System for Ireland PAGE 3 into the economic realities of libraries and to understand the val- ues of the profession. It’s rare for a new executive to come into the TIND RDM: A New Platform for Research Data Management industry who has actual experience working in a library. It’s much PAGE 3 more likely that they will have come in from other businesses in Recent System Selections related industries, such as publishing, the technology sector, or PAGE 4 other business-to-business or business-to-consumer companies. Smart Libraries Q&A Doing business with libraries is unlike most other com- PAGE 5 mercial sectors. Libraries, like other non-profits, have certain A LA TechSource alatechsource.org of their services. Libraries also appreciate vendors willing to the reins of one of the most powerful and influential compa- treat them as partners rather than mere customers. Rather nies in the library industry. Shem Tov comes into this role fol- than expecting to deliver each product or service according lowing a very successful tenure leading Ex Libris, which has to internally-developed processes, reaching out to libraries to become the leading provider of technology products to aca- help shape them will naturally be appreciated and will also demic and research libraries. Ex Libris was acquired by Pro- result in producing more desirable and valuable offerings. Quest over a year ago. This experience with Ex Libris should This issue of Smart Libraries Newsletter features the provide a valuable perspective as he enters this new role. change of leadership at ProQuest, with Matti Shem Tov taking New Leadership for ProQuest and Ex Libris The board of directors of ProQuest has announced that Matti • Francisco Partners (June 2006–April 2008) Shem Tov, President of Ex Libris, will assume leadership of the • Leeds Equity Partners (August 2008–November 2012) entire ProQuest organization, succeeding current CEO Kurt • Golden Gate Capital (November 2012–2015) Sanford. This change comes a year and 4 months after the • ProQuest (since 2015) acquisition of Ex Libris, a move that significantly expanded the position of ProQuest as a content, services, and technol- The continuity of Shem Tov’s leadership of Ex Libris ogy company for libraries. This move represents an interesting through these events stands in contrast to the normal course change in ProQuest where the top leadership comes from the of events associated with a change of ownership. In most cases, technology sphere rather than the publishing industry. new investors will install their own executive management The transition from Sanford to Shem Tov will transpire team. The retention of Shem Tov and his management team gradually. Executive responsibilities will shift in the third reflect confidence and a sense of not wanting to disrupt a suc- quarter of 2017. Sanford will then remain in an advisory cessful business and technology strategy. Key members of this capacity through the end of 2017 before he exits the company. executive team include Oren Beit-Arie, Chief Strategy Officer; Shem Tov will report directly to the ProQuest Board of Direc- Bar Veinstei, Corporate VP Resource Management Solutions; tors, headed by Andrew M. Snyder. Ownership of ProQuest and Omri Gerson, Vice President for Development, Platform is privately held by Cambridge Information Group, which is and Technologies. owned by the family of Robert N. Snyder. Goldman Sachs has During each period of ownership, Ex Libris was able made major investments in ProQuest and holds a significant to create or acquire new products that attracted interest minority ownership position. for potential new owners and investors. During the period Shem Tov joined Ex Libris in March 2003 as President and when the company was still owned by Hebrew University of Chief Executive Officer and has remained at the helm of the Jerusalem, they had expanded the market for its Aleph inte- company through its multiple ownership arrangements. At Ex grated library system (ILS), had commercialized SFX, and Libris, he led an executive team that achieved and sustained had launched its Primo discovery tool. While it was affili- advancement of the company’s position as a technology pro- ated with Francisco Partners, Ex Libris acquired Endeavor vider for academic and research libraries, which was based, to and its Voyager ILS, representing a major expansion of its a large extent, on aggressive research and development strate- customer base, especially in the United States. The develop- gies able to create new technology products with strong mar- ment of Alma took place under Leeds Equity. When Golden ket appeal. Ex Libris has seen impressive growth in terms of Gate acquired the company, Alma was in a fairly early phase extending its slate of product offerings, increasing the librar- of marketing. By the time that ProQuest acquired Ex Libris, ies adopting its products, steadily increasing revenues, and Alma had become well established as the dominant product expanding its workforce. for large academic and research libraries seeking a new tech- The ownership arrangements of Ex Libris included: nology platform. Ex Libris also launched its Leganto reading list management system and acquired the campusM mobile • Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1980–2006), Tamar Ven- platform from oMbiel while it was under Golden Gate. tures, and Walden Israel (1999–2006) These cycles of investment have resulted in new products 2 Smart Libraries available to libraries and have strengthened Ex Libris’ busi- Sanford came to ProQuest from LexisNexis, where he ness position. served as President of Global Operations. His previous roles Kurt Sanford made many significant contributions dur- at LexisNexis included President and CEO of its US corpo- ing his tenure as its top executive. He joined ProQuest in July rate and public markets, CEO of LexisNexis Asia Pacific, 2011 as President and CEO, succeeding Marty Kahn, who had and Senior Vice President Large Law Firm Markets. Prior led the company since 2007. Prior to ProQuest, Sanford served to joining LexisNexis, Sanford was a consultant at Bain and in several executive positions for LexisNexis culminating as Company. its President of Global Operations for its global legal business. Prior to joining Ex Libris, Shem Tov was President of At ProQuest, Sanford led the company through significant Surecomp, a global software development company special- business changes, building a more unified organization while izing in the banking industry. Shem Tov earned a Master’s extending its portfolio of products and services. Under his lead- Degree in Business Administration from Bar Ilan University ership, ProQuest expanded its business in several areas. Major in Israel. business acquisitions included EBL Ebook Library, Pi2, Coutts Bar Veinstein, Corporate Vice President of Resource Information Services, Ex Libris, and Alexander Street. In recent Management Solutions, will assume the role of President of years, ProQuest has consolidated the technology platforms that Ex Libris.
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