Monday, 27 January, 2014 . Today, January 27th, 2014 is an important day for the history of BibLibre and Open Source software in libraries. We are pleased to announce our strategic alliance with the company AFI. This company is an other major player in the field of Open Source for libraries.
AFI and BibLibre announce their strategic alliance to establish of the first European center dedicated to open source software for libraries and documentation centers.
AFI ("Agence Française Informatique", literally French IT Agency) and BibLibre are two major players in the development of open source software in the world of libraries and documentation centers. Offering a complete range of software and a fleet of more than 600 customers, the division created is immediately the #1 European player in its sector.
Historically installed in France, the division is already present in many European countries, either directly or through local partners: Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, etc ... It will grow rapidly on this axis, and in new countries.
It is a strategic alliance between two companies that remain independent. The merger between AFI and BibLibre is effected by the introduction of crossed investments in capital. Both companies will remain separated, shareholders and managers remain in place, all teams and resources are pooled in the operational framework of the cluster thus formed.
The main objective of this alliance is to create a cluster fully and resolutely turned towards open source software. Offers currently carried by the two companies are enriched with new components and products that will be further announced. Communities related to each open source software will be strengthened and internationalized.
The second objective is the ability to innovate. On a rapidly changing market (digital offering , semantic web, changing formats and offers), the group thus formed is able to make the necessary investments to provide an innovative and sustainable supply.
The third objective is to achieve a critical size to offer to our customers even more safe and fast services. By consolidating best practices of project management, agile development, and support, we have powerful assets to complete all projects and commitments that we take.
About AFI
Present in several functional areas, AFI made a spectacular breakthrough in the world of library software with AFI OPAC 2.0 and AFI-Nanook. Founded in 1981, AFI performs a global turnover of 4 million Euros in 2012 (including 1.5 million Euros in the library sector) with 60 people.
Provider of software for libraries since 1989, AFI develops open source software since 2004. For AFI the transition to open source license is a philosophical choice. The company is committed to the free dissemination of knowledge and access to knowledge as to software opening. AFI is at the origin of the initiative of the data recovery charter from the FULBI in France that guaranteed each french library the ability to export data from management software when it wishes.
To know more about AFI and its solutions : afi-sa.net
About BibLibre
Well known for its business around the open source software Koha, both in university and public reading libraries BibLibre now devotes a significant portion of its energy to promote other programs: Piwik for statistics and Omeka for managing digital resources.
BibLibre offer also and in particular a complete range of services and customized to help libraries to better control software library management and allow them to focus their efforts on their core business. BibLibre takes care of hosting, support migration, staff training, maintenance and development of the software it distribute.
To know more about BibLibre an its solutions : biblibre.com
