EBSCO Information Services
EBSCO Information Services is a prominent division of EBSCO Industries, Inc., founded in 1984, with roots tracing back to 1943 when Elton B. Stephens initially established the Military Service Company. Headquartered in Ipswich, Massachusetts, EBSCO has evolved into a leading provider of research databases, magazine subscriptions, e-books, e-journals, and various data sources primarily aimed at libraries, schools, and individual researchers. The company has a long history of expanding its services, including the development of the EBSCOhost online platform, which provides easy access to a wide array of information resources.
Throughout its history, EBSCO has continually adapted to technological advancements, shifting much of its operations online since the 1990s and employing a diverse team of professionals to enhance its digital offerings. EBSCO is committed to understanding the changing needs of its users and has maintained strong relationships with librarians to ensure it meets their informational requirements effectively. The company also engages in various charitable activities, supporting community programs and educational initiatives, while promoting employee volunteerism. EBSCO's dedication to quality and innovation has solidified its position as a leader in providing essential resources for research and education in the 21st century.
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Subject Terms
EBSCO Information Services
Company information
- Date founded: 1984 (parent company 1943/1944)
- Industry: Communications; IT Services
- Corporate headquarters: Ipswich, Massachusetts
- Type: Private
Overview
EBSCO Information Services is the information division of EBSCO Industries, Inc. Founder Elton B. Stephens began the company, then called the Military Service Company, in 1943, before coining the EBSCO name in 1944. Stephens, and later his son, J. T. Stephens, led the company through decades of expansion. EBSCO acquired numerous smaller companies and invested in many fields, ranging from magazines to fishing lures. The company negotiated rights to thousands of periodicals and other data sources for its Information Services branch, which by the twenty-first century mainly offered reference material to libraries, schools, and individual researchers. EBSCO Information Services was formally founded as a division in 1984.
History
EBSCO founder Elton B. Stephens was born into a financially struggling family in Clio, Alabama. As a young man, he sold magazines and clothing to earn money for college. He attended the University of Alabama School of Law to prepare for a career as a lawyer. However, upon graduating in 1936, he determined that sales would be a more profitable field than law. With this in mind, he purchased a franchise in the Keystone Readers’ Service, a magazine-subscription sales company. In 1943, during World War II (1939–45), he teamed with his wife, Alys Robinson Stephens, to create their own sales group, the Military Service Company, which offered magazines and personalized items on military bases. This company prospered as the couple expanded operations and drew in new suppliers. In 1944, he called his network of business ventures EBSCO, from his three initials and the abbreviation for company. In the coming decades, Stephens added a variety of other businesses, producing metal products, binders, stationery, and magazines.
In 1971, Stephens gave the presidency of EBSCO to his son, J. T. Stephens, who continued to grow and expand the varied business. Under the younger Stephens, EBSCO began selling carpets, billiard equipment, fishing lures, and other items. Still, by the 1980s, EBSCO was best known for its periodicals and other information services and chose to expand in this area. The company researched many different topics and industries to provide libraries with information. The growing popularity of computers helped the company offer electronic information services as well. EBSCO created an early online data network to connect company offices. Later, it used a similar online platform, called EBSCONET, to offer database information directly to consumers.
In the 1980s and 1990s, EBSCO became a leader in CD-ROM reference sources. It acquired CD-ROM companies and converted information into compatible formats. EBSCO programmers also made innovations in electronic search methods, text abstracts, and summaries of articles for readers seeking a quick overview of a resource. In 1996, the company moved much of its information holdings online into the EBSCOhost system, which could be accessed by libraries, schools, or individual subscribers. As with prior projects, EBSCOhost continued to expand and modernize to meet the changing needs of users. The company also introduced more services, including EBSCOdoc (or EBSCO Document Services) for document delivery; Collectanea (later, Corporate ResourceNet) for corporate reference; and EBSCO Online, a streamlined digital journal database for library use.
In 1984, EBSCO Information Services was founded as a division of the company overseeing its data offerings. The division was originally cofounded by Tim Collins as a company specializing in periodical abstraction, before being acquired by EBSCO; Collins subsequently became the chief executive officer (CEO) of EBSCO Information Services. In 2000, this branch expanded into e-commerce and began an online book-selling service. It also continued to expand EBSCO’s already significant data holdings with acquisitions of groups such as the global subscription agency RoweCom, bibliographic database provider Whitston Publishing, and healthcare database service CINAHL Information Systems. In 2009, EBSCO Information Services acquired subscription service provider Mundi-Prensa, Ergonomics Abstracts, medical reference service PEMSoft, and the British Education Index. In 2013, EBSCO Information Services merged with another related EBSCO branch, EBSCO Publishing. After Collins decided to retire from his position as CEO in 2024, the company announced Annie Callanan as the new CEO of EBSCO Information Services, effective in August 2024.
Impact
By the twenty-first century, EBSCO Information Services had become a world leader in providing research databases, magazine subscriptions and archives, e-books, e-journals, and many other data sources. The company mainly serves libraries. Through its decades of operation, EBSCO Information Services has maintained close relationships with librarians, seeking to understand and meet their ever-changing informational needs, and sees itself as invested in the long-term health and development of libraries.
EBSCO Information Services also offers data resources to schools, businesses, other organizations, and individual scholars and researchers. Some information products are customized for use by government agencies, corporations, or universities. Medical information resources can help healthcare professionals in training and finding up-to-date research reports and making well-informed choices about clinical options and patient care options.
The company has also evolved technologically, moving most of its activities to digital and online platforms starting in the 1990s. By the 2020s, EBSCO Information Services employed hundreds of computer engineers and other professionals. This team worked to continually modernize and improve the company’s digital offerings and find the newest and most efficient methods of delivering information to consumers. In 2023, EBSCO remained the nation’s leading provider of research databases, library technology, and education materials for the K-12 audience and higher education. The company continued to add resources as well, including FinancialFit, a product focused on improving financial literacy.
The company focuses on several core values. One is a focus on determining and meeting the needs of consumers through gathering user feedback and constantly improving services. The company also focuses on the quality of its offerings by hiring highly skilled content developers and other specialists. Another focus is on continual innovation in technology to keep services up-to-date and as effective and cost-efficient as possible.
EBSCO Information Services has worked with more than thirty charities, schools, and other organizations to provide useful information and technology support. The company promotes volunteerism and has assisted in educational, leadership, and environmental efforts. Some local community charity programs supported by EBSCO include Change is Simple, Ipswich DinnerBell, Service Dog Project, Ipswich Caring, and the North Shore YMCA. Employees have hosted recycling programs, blood drives, and various charity events. In line with its support of libraries, the company has also assisted libraries with awards, scholarships, grants, and free access to open-source projects.
Bibliography
“About EBSCO.” EBSCO Information Services, 2024, www.ebsco.com/about. Accessed 22 July 2024.
"EBSCO Industries Announces Annie Callanan as New CEO of EBSCO Information Services." EBSCO Information Services, 15 July 2024, www.ebsco.com/news-center/press-releases/ebsco-industries-announces-annie-callanan-new-ceo-ebsco-information-services. Accessed 22 July 2024.
“EBSCO Industries, Inc. History.” Funding Universe, www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/ebsco-industries-inc-history/. Accessed 19 Aug. 2021.
“EBSCO Information Services.” EIFL, www.eifl.net/publisher/ebsco-information-services. Accessed 19 Aug. 2021.
“Industry Expertise.” EBSCO Information Services, www.ebsco.com/about/industry-expertise. Accessed 22 July 2024.
“Timeline: 2010s–2000s.” EBSCO Industries, www.ebscoind.com/about-us/timeline/. Accessed 8 July 2022.
Zampitella, Celia. “EBSCO Information Services Launches FinancialFit™.” PRWeb Online Press Release Distribution Service, 14 Feb. 2023, www.prweb.com/releases/ebsco‗information‗services‗launches‗financialfit/prweb19169232.htm. Accessed 4 May 2023.