Ex Libris, from Clarivate

What Ex Libris, from Clarivate does

Ex Libris, from Clarivate, is a provider of cloud-based library management and academic workflow software founded in 1980, headquartered in Jerusalem, Israel, and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Clarivate (NYSE: CCC) since its 2016 acquisition. The company serves academic institutions, national libraries, public library systems, and library consortia across more than 20 countries, claiming adoption by 97 of the world's top 100 universities and 550+ libraries on its Rialto collection development platform. Its portfolio centers on Alma as a unified cloud Library Services Platform, complemented by Primo and Summon for discovery, Leganto for course reading lists, campusM for mobile student engagement, Rapido and RapidILL for resource sharing, Rialto for collection development, Esploro for research information management, and Alma Specto for AI-powered digital collections; legacy systems include Aleph and Voyager.\n\nThe technology stack is cloud-native and AI-enabled, integrating generative AI metadata enrichment (Alma AI Metadata Assistant "Lili Daie"), conversational discovery (Primo Research Assistant, Natural Language Search), computer vision (Alma Specto), and process automation (Library Open Workflows). Hundreds of APIs and integrations connect Alma to student information systems, learning management systems, financial systems, ORCID, and content suppliers including Ingram Library Services, Browns Books, and Kortext. The platform is backed by an active global user community (ELUNA, IGeLU, IUG) that contributes to the product roadmap through an Idea Exchange portal, and the company was the first in the library industry to achieve ISO/IEC 27032 cybersecurity certification.\n\nEx Libris generates revenue primarily through subscription-based software licensing of its cloud SaaS platforms to academic and research institutions, with additional income from professional services for implementation, training, and ongoing support. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, but the company offers bundled packages including Cloud Core, Teaching Partner, and Collection Plus to tailor deployments. Distribution is dominated by direct enterprise sales with regional offices in the US, UK, Germany, Israel, Singapore, Japan, Korea, China, Australia, Brazil, and other markets, supplemented by authorized distributors in Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Name

Ex Libris, from Clarivate

Legal name

Ex Libris Ltd.

Website

https://exlibris.clarivate.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Ex Libris, from Clarivate, provides cloud-based library management, discovery, resource sharing, and research information software to academic institutions, national libraries, and consortia across 20+ countries, serving 97 of the world's top 100 universities through its Alma, Primo, Leganto, and Rialto platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Library Management Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132), Software Publishers (513210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Library Collections & Cataloging Services (Acquisitions, Metadata, Circulation) (EDAEAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Academic & Research Library Operations (College/University Libraries) (EDAEAGAB), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), OER Repositories, Discovery & Metadata Services (EDAGAJAL), Interlibrary Loan (ILL) & Resource Sharing Operations (EDAEAGAK)

Keywords

• Library management software
• Library discovery platform
• Research information management
• Digital preservation solutions
• Academic library services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices20 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing and Subscriptions: Ex Libris generates revenue primarily through subscription-based software licensing of its library management and discovery platforms to academic institutions, libraries, and consortia globally. The company offers cloud-based SaaS solutions with perpetual and subscription licensing models.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Ex Libris provides a unified suite of cloud-based library management and discovery software for academic institutions, research libraries, public libraries, and library consortia. The portfolio centers on the Alma Library Services Platform and includes Primo for discovery, Leganto for course reading lists, campusM for mobile student engagement, Rapido for resource sharing, Rialto for collection development, Esploro for research information management, Rosetta for digital preservation, and Summon for library discovery. Ex Libris sells these as subscription-based SaaS contracts backed by professional implementation and support services.

Product overview

Ex Libris, from Clarivate, provides a comprehensive, unified suite of library software solutions designed for higher education and research institutions. The portfolio centers on Alma as the cloud-based Library Services Platform providing unified management of print and electronic resources, complemented by Primo for discovery and search, Leganto for course reading lists, campusM for mobile student engagement, Rapido for resource sharing, Rialto for collection development, Summon for library discovery, Esploro for research information management, and Alma Specto for AI-powered digital collections. Legacy products include Aleph and Voyager integrated library systems. The company also offers specialized packages (Cloud Core, Teaching Partner, Collection Plus) and technology services including Linked Open Data and Library Open Workflows. With three decades of innovation, Ex Libris serves academic institutions, national libraries, and public libraries worldwide, embracing generative AI, linked open data, and conversational discovery to transform library services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alma: Cloud-based library services platform for unified management, analytics, and collaborative networks.
• Primo
• Summon
• Leganto
• campusM
• Rapido
• RapidILL
• Rosetta
• Esploro
• Rialto
• Vega
• Aleph
• Voyager
• Alma Specto

Products and services

• Alma Library Services Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• 97 of world's top 100 universities use Ex Libris solutions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers31 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability10 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• University of MelbourneflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Strategic partnership to deliver next-generation library solutions, combining research excellence with innovative technology
• Ingram Library ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIngram Library Services joined Rialto as a content supplier, expanding the collection development marketplace
• Browns BookscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrowns Books joined Rialto marketplace with print availability integration
• KortextcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKortext joined Rialto to provide digital textbook and learning content integration
• ORCIDcoreTechnology or IntegrationEsploro integrated with ORCID to enable researchers to synchronize data on their profiles and expose their scholarly work
• Lean LibrarycoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to bring Primo and Summon discovery further into the patron workflow
• Pivot-RPcoreTechnology or IntegrationEsploro and Pivot-RP integration to deliver extensive research information management capabilities

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• OCLC: OCLC operates WorldCat and a suite of library management, discovery, and resource-sharing services for academic and public libraries globally, directly competing with Ex Libris's Alma, Primo, and resource-sharing products.
• The Library Corporation (TLC): TLC provides CARL.X, LS2, and TheCommunicator ILS and discovery products to academic and public libraries, directly competing with Ex Libris's Alma and Primo products.
• SirsiDynix: SirsiDynix offers BLUEcloud, Symphony, and Horizon ILS products for academic and public libraries, directly competing with Ex Libris's Alma, Aleph, and Voyager platforms.
• Innovative Interfaces (III): Innovative provides Polaris, Sierra, and Vega cloud library services platforms to academic and public libraries, directly competing with Alma and Ex Libris's flagship library services offerings.

Emerging players

• BiblioCommons: BiblioCommons provides a public-library-oriented discovery and patron-engagement platform, competing with Ex Libris's discovery and engagement products in the public library segment.
• Index Data: Index Data provides FOLIO-based open-source library services and discovery (covering FOLIO apps and ReShare resource sharing), positioning itself as a community alternative to Ex Libris's Alma and Rapido.
• ByWater Solutions: ByWater Solutions is a leading provider of open-source Koha and Aspen Discovery implementations, providing a lower-cost alternative to Ex Libris's cloud LMS for academic and public libraries.

Broad incumbents

• EBSCO: EBSCO provides discovery (EDS), full-text content, and library research services across academic, public, and corporate libraries, overlapping with Primo's discovery and content aggregation capabilities.
• Cengage: Cengage provides library and academic content, research tools, and course materials platforms (e.g., Gale, OASIS), competing with Ex Libris's content discovery, Leganto, and Rialto offerings at the institutional level.
• ProQuest (Ex Libris sister brand under Clarivate): ProQuest — Ex Libris's sister business under Clarivate — provides library research databases, ebooks, and workflows, overlapping with Ex Libris's content and discovery use cases and competing for the same institutional budgets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ExLibrisGroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@exlibrisfromclarivate
• Facebookfacebook.com/exlibrisfromclarivate
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ex-libris-from-clarivate

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ex Libris, from Clarivate