Information systems company DS Group Holdings has acquired Crossnet Systems Limited, a specialist in interoperability and its application in web portals, in a move to address the fast-growing requirement to enable library, archive and museum users to carry out controlled searches of multiple databases.
Crossnet skills and products are building cross-domain facilities that enable information professionals from all sectors to search across data held in separate library, archive and museum databases.
Crossnet is based in Newbury and will retain its existing staff and offices. It provides consultancy, software development and training services and was awarded ISO-9000 quality assurance accreditation in 1997. Although a wholly owned subsidiary of DS Group, the company will continue to work entirely separately in order to continue operating as an independent consultancy.
Crossnet was set up in 1996 and its client list includes the British Library, the national libraries in France, Germany, Sweden and Hungary, the European Centre for Space Observation and the European Space Agency Research Institute.
Crossnet is active in many other leading edge national and international projects in the library, museum, archive and geo-spatial sectors, including the UK National Union Catalogue, MALVINE ( Manuscripts and Letters via Integrated Networks in Europe), LEAF ( Links & Exploring Authority Files) and ONE-2 ( OPAC Network in Europe). It is also a leading technical partner in the major Europe-wide E-Diamond project, which will produce an e-Commerce and an e-Trading platform to allow content and service providers to offer their end-users a single access agreement and a single billing account without the need to enter confidential financial information over the Internet.
Rob Bull, Managing Director of Crossnet, says, " I am very happy that we have found a partner with the stability and financial strength to accelerate our growth. The leading role that the DS Group plays in all sectors of the library and heritage market is another big advantage for Crossnet as it allows us to exploit our technical excellence within a sound and secure business environment."
Nigel Pegg, Managing Director of DS Group Holdings, is also very happy with the acquisition. "This is an important and strategic acquisition for us. The interoperability skills brought into the Group by Crossnet will add significant value to all activities. It will help develop products that widen access to information and will further increase the Group's ability to fully participate in cross-domain activities, including regional and other cultural consortia and partnerships."
