Library technology solutions provider Bibliotheca has announced that Al Coalla, formerly North American sales director, will assume the role of president of the company’s North American divisions beginning October 1. Coalla will be responsible for Bibliotheca’s operations throughout the Americas region, taking the reins from Shai Robkin, who has requested to step down from his position, according to the announcement.
In a related move, Bibliotheca has promoted Gary Potts from Bibliotheca group director, finance, to chief operating officer of North America.
Robkin founded Integrated Technology Group in 2005, and within a few years had built the company into a significant player in the North American self-checkout and RFID market. Last year, One Equity Partners, a division of J.P. Morgan Chase, bought and merged Swiss-based Bibliotheca, ITG and UK-based Intellident.
“From the early days of the merger, it was always my intention to build the North American business and its team to a point where my involvement could be reduced,” Robkin said of his departure. “As an active shareholder in the company, Bibliotheca will continue to hold personal interest for me and I will continue to assist where I can in an advisory role.”
This summer, the company announced plans to launch a new ebook division in early 2013 based on the Douglas County Libraries (DCL) model, in which libraries own and manage ebooks, rather than licensing content through intermediaries. The company hired Monique Sendze, DCL’s former associate director of information technology, and Jordana Vincent, DCL’s former collection development librarian, to lead the effort.
Beginning in 2013, Bibliotheca plans to honor Robkin’s accomplishments by presenting a new annual award to a North American library that has shown “exceptional innovation or forward thinking.” Details will be announced next year.
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