The Alma platform will serve as the basis of a cloud-based, unified solution for over 40 consortium members

Ex Libris®, a ProQuest company, is pleased to announce that the North Rhine-Westphalian Library Service Center (hbz) has signed the contract with Ex Libris on behalf of the North Rhine-Westphalian (NRW) consortium in order to introduce the Alma® library services platform to the 43 member institutions of the consortium. The Alma platform will replace eight different systems currently in use.

The libraries belonging to the consortium found that the Alma platform offers the most advanced capabilities available today for consortia. Replacing the heterogenous, complex structure of the current library systems, the Alma platform will provide an integrated landscape that serves large and small member libraries alike.

Dr. Silke Schomburg, head of hbz, explained, “We are excited to adopt Alma—a new system offering new possibilities—which will facilitate the management of complex services for all our members of the NRW consortium, regardless of size. We selected Alma for a number of reasons, including its advanced, future-proof technology, its accessibility, and its compliance with the privacy requirements set by the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Additionally, we value the well-established Ex Libris community and look forward to participating in the Alma forum.”

Ofer Mosseri, corporate vice president and general manager of Ex Libris EMEA, said, “Ex Libris is delighted that the NRW consortium has opted for the Alma platform as the basis of the consortium’s future library services. The Alma platform’s flexibility and capabilities for supporting consortia with a broad range of member libraries will serve as a model for other consortia in Germany and across Europe. We are excited to welcome the NRW consortium to the Alma community.”