Aleph

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 Aleph server is currently used by 35 libraries belonging to 43 MPIs. These instances do not share a common database (no library consortia), but are quite independent in their setup. Furthermore, on the MPS Aleph server are located the central catalogue for journals (MPS Journal Index) as well as the back ends for the MPS Resource Navigator (MPG.Re.Na) and the E-Books Catalogue (MPG.eBooks).

MPDL is responsible for overall coordination and 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 with GWDG, 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.


 * General information on the MPS Aleph Server (public)
 * Aleph Wiki (MPS & GWDG internal documentation)

''N.B. Some of the links in this article lead to the Aleph Wiki to which access is restricted to members of MPS and GWDG. We apologize for any inconvenience.''