August 20, 2001 - Hamburg, Germany. Ex Libris (Germany) is pleased to announce that a contract was signed recently with Daimler Chrysler AG of Stuttgart for the implementation of the current version of the ALEPH 500 library system. This agreement makes DaimlerChrysler the second major automobile manufacturer, after Volkswagen AG Wolfsburg, to opt for ALEPH. The Volkswagen system is already in production.
DaimlerChrysler was created in 1998 by the merging of two of the world's largest automobile companies. With a combined history of over two hundred years in the manufacture of automobiles and other means of transportation and in the provision of services, DaimlerChrysler is a world leader in the industry. The firm employs over 40,000 people worldwide and owns production facilities in 37 countries.
The special library at DaimlerChrysler helps company researchers gather information, primarily in the areas of engineering and economics. A primary goal of this service resides in the linking of the company's internal knowledge bases and external information sources.
Before making their final choice, the library staff undertook a thorough evaluation of the market, a process that involved surveying domestic as well as international bidders. A list of criteria was drawn up for the purpose of rating of the systems.
Inge Wuchner, head of Library On-line Services, commented, "In our evaluation, Ex Libris's ALEPH system appeared to best fulfill our requirements. It was important for us to realize that in comparison with other systems, the standard version of ALEPH 500 already meets many of the requirements of our particular environment. As a result, only minor adjustments will need to be made."
For Eva Krall, the Ex Libris project manager, the DaimlerChrysler agreement means another prominent addition to the Ex Libris (Germany) customer list. The contract also confirms once again that with ALEPH 500, Ex Libris offers a future-oriented product based on the most advanced technologies and know-how, a product on which customers can rely with fullest confidence.
According to the project plan, the DaimlerChrysler system is slated to go into production at the beginning of 2002.
For additional information, see www.daimlerchrysler.com.
About Ex Libris
Ex Libris is a leading worldwide developer of high-performance applications for libraries, information centers, and researchers. Ex Libris is a multinational company. ALEPH, the Ex Libris integrated library solution, has been installed at over 560 sites in 44 countries. Other Ex Libris software products include MetaLib, an information portal for library collections that provides libraries, institutions, and consortia with a standardized user interface; SFX, the context-sensitive linking
solution for libraries and information centers; and DigiTool, a solution for constructing digital collections as components of an overall digital strategy. For more information about Ex Libris and its products, please link to www.exlibrisgroup.com.
