2015 Charleston Library Conference

During 2015 the library industry has seen continuing consolidation of its suppliers. This panel will include representatives from Ebsco and ProQuest to describe and discuss their recent acquisitions of YBP and Coutts respectively.
In both cases, the acquiring organization is not a print book supplier. What caused these companies to make these acquisitions? What is their vision for serving their customers? What benefits should libraries expect from these acquisitions? And how is it going?
The panel will also include 2 librarian representatives who are customers of Coutts and YBP. How do they see this consolidation? What benefits would they hope to achieve as a result? How is going from the customer’s point of view?
The Charleston Conference has its roots in the relationship between suppliers and the acquisition process by libraries. This panel addresses what appears to be a new phase of consolidation in that process.