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The electronic library scene Pica has purchased a controlling interest in ALS (Automated Library Systems) and the two have formed a cooperative alliance. Pica concentrates mainly on the automation of academic libraries and ALS on public libraries, and each will continue to operate as an independent organisation with separate product lines, customer support and other activities. However, by joining together in this way the companies say they can offer a wider range of services, products and R&D, and ‘come to a convergence of new technical developments in order to react faster to new technological trends.’ They also intend to increase their combined market share in Europe — both are strong in the Netherlands and Germany; ALS is a strong UK player and has a growing presence in France, Switzerland and Portugal — and to establish an integrated infrastructure for the libraries to which they give support.