Aleph

Maximize your library's efficiency

The Aleph integrated library system (ILS) with its efficient and user-friendly tools is currently used by 40 research libraries within the MPG to accommodate the daily demands of their researchers. Aleph supports the complete workflow of a modern, user-centered research library. This includes catalog enrichment, acquisition, serials control, loan, inter library loan, web-based search interface. The system configuration can be tailored to meet virtually any library policy or procedure, enabling the creation of unique policies and workflows. The service is hosted and maintained by GWDG. GWDG supports MPG Librarians with regards to system configuration and optimization. Aleph is an integrated library system (ILS) by Ex Libris. Since 2000 the Max Planck Society and the GWDG have been running a central Aleph server for MPI libraries.

The forty instances do not share a common database (no library consortia), but are quite independent in their setup.

MPDL is responsible for licensing matters. Hosting, support, and central system librarians' tasks are done by GWDG. System librarians in the MPIs take care of their libraries' individual setup and, in a joint working group, of a standardized setup for those libraries wishing their setup to be maintained centrally. Another working group develops and keeps up to date a corporate design for the Aleph OPAC.

The Aleph team is a group of MPI librarians and members of MPDL and GWDG. They meet about twice a year to discuss different topics, e.g. ongoing developments, the roll out of software upgrades and the participation of the partners in national and international Aleph user groups. The Aleph Team issues a bi-monthly Newsletter informing the librarians of its ongoing work. Discussion and documentation tool for the work of the Aleph team ist the Aleph Wiki. General information on the MPS Aleph Server is available. (Note: Some of the links in this article lead to the Aleph Wiki to which access is restricted to members of MPS and GWDG.)

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