Baker & Taylor Adds Site Scoping Functionality to Axis 360 Digital Service

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Baker & Taylor, the premier worldwide distributor of digital and print books and entertainment products, announced today that it has developed a new function for its Axis 360 digital media service giving libraries using a shared collection the power to filter out content they wish to exclude from their Axis 360 platform.

Baker & Taylor worked closely with the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) consortium to develop the site scoping tool, in response to suggestions from libraries participating in the eRead Illinois ebook program. The enhancement gives libraries greater control over their digital collections and allows, for instance, elementary school libraries participating in a consortium with public libraries to restrict the availability of mature adult titles from young students.

"This addition to Axis 360 provides libraries with the flexibility to filter or 'scope' material and make sure it is appropriate for their users," said George Coe, President and CEO of Baker & Taylor. "Librarians know what is best for the communities they serve, and this new tool helps them tailor material from shared collections to serve their audience best."

Site scoping allows a member library to create an age-appropriate digital media site by excluding titles by BISAC subject or audience level, with the ability to whitelist authors that are deemed appropriate. Once filtered, the excluded material is not able to be discovered or downloaded by that library's users but remains available at libraries that have chosen not to restrict the content.

"It is critical for schools to be a part of the eRead Illinois statewide shared ebook collection to maintain the strong tradition of multi-type library resource sharing for which Illinois libraries are known," said Dee Brennan, Executive Director, Reaching Across Illinois Library System. "Illinois schools have been locked out of other ebook consortia in the past. Baker & Taylor has been a true partner on the eRead Illinois ebook project, and we appreciate their swift response in developing the scoping functionality to serve the unique needs of our multi-type collection. This development demonstrates the power of partnerships between library consortia and vendors to work together to move the needle on critical issues facing today's libraries and library patrons." 

Axis 360 is Baker & Taylor's revolutionary digital media service. It provides libraries with a state-of-the-art and visually engaging system for circulating digital books and audiobooks, which can be downloaded directly to patrons' computers, tablets, smartphones and other devices.

About Baker & Taylor
Baker & Taylor, Inc. is the premier worldwide distributor of books, digital content and entertainment products. The company offers cutting-edge digital media services and innovative technology platforms to thousands of publishers, libraries, schools and retailers worldwide. Baker & Taylor also offers industry-leading customized library services and retail merchandising solutions. Charlotte, N.C.-based Baker & Taylor is majority owned by Castle Harlan Partners IV, L.P., an institutional private equity fund managed by Castle Harlan, Inc., a leading private equity investment firm. For more information, please visit www.baker-taylor.com.

About eRead Illinois
eRead Illinois is a statewide shared ebook collection funded by a grant from the Secretary of State through the Illinois State Library, and is expanding access across the state by leveraging buying power of libraries to purchase ebooks for the shared statewide collection. It also promotes the library's role in helping ebook readers discover new authors/titles to encourage better pricing and greater access to ebook titles for libraries. Information about eRead Illinois is available at www.ereadillinois.com.

About Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS)
The Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) is a multi-type library consortium serving over 1,300 libraries in northern and western Illinois. RAILS provides continuing education and consulting, ebook services, deliver, shared online catalogs talking book services and more. Information about RAILS is available at www.railslibraries.info.

SOURCE Baker & Taylor, Inc.

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