FLORENCE, Italy, 6 July 2016—OCLC announced today the acquisition of IFNET through its subsidiary OCLC EMEA B.V. IFNET is the distributor of library automation software and services in Italy.
IFNET, formerly IF, was founded in Italy in 1985 by a group of librarians with the goal of establishing a national reference point for the automation of library services. Since then, it has expanded its core business to become a leading distributor of library software and services in Italy for all libraries, including public, special, academic and corporate libraries, as well as documentation centres.
IFNET's activities include distribution and implementation of library automation software, library consultancy, conversions, training, cataloguing services and subject heading and thesaurus projects.
IFNET staff, as part of OCLC, will focus on providing and supporting OCLC services to libraries in Italy. The six IFNET staff members will join the OCLC staff.
"For more than 20 years, OCLC and IFNET have been trusted partners in service to libraries in Italy," said Skip Prichard, OCLC President and CEO. "As we come together today as one organization, we have new opportunities for expanding services and support.The talented IFNET team is committed to providing exceptional service to libraries in Italy, and we look forward to creating new opportunities for growth."
"The acquisition by OCLC today represents an important recognition for us," said Gabriele Lunati, Administratore Delegato at IFNET. "In more than 30 years, IFNET has established itself in Italy as one of the leading companies in the field of library science. One of the strongest elements of our success has been determined by OCLC services. Since 1992, we have been supporting OCLC services for Italian librarians. We are excited about the prospects of greater integration as part of OCLC in support of Italian libraries."
"OCLC and IFNET have worked together closely for many years to support OCLC services in Italy," said Eric van Lubeek, Vice President, Managing Director, OCLC EMEA & APAC. "Libraries in Italy have demonstrated a great deal of interest in OCLC cloud-based solutions. As part of OCLC, IFNET staff can focus on helping libraries benefit from OCLC's cooperative approach to library services and systems management."
About OCLC
OCLC is a nonprofit global library cooperativeproviding shared technology services, original research and community programs so that libraries can better fuel learning, research and innovation. Through OCLC, member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat,the most comprehensive global network of data about library collections and services. Libraries gain efficiencies through OCLC's WorldShare, a complete set of library management applications and services built on an open, cloud-based platform. It is through collaboration and sharing of the world's collected knowledge that libraries can help people find answers they need to solve problems. Together as OCLC, member libraries, staff and partners make breakthroughs possible.
