Baker & Taylor Introduces Axis 360 at ALA Annual Conference

NEW ORLEANS, June 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Baker & Taylor, the world's largest distributor of physical and digital books, is excited to unveil its Axis 360 digital media circulation and management platform at the American Library Association Annual Conference. Axis 360 is a state-of-the-art system for accessing digital content and Blio, the world's most engaging ereading experience. With the addition of Axis 360 to Baker & Taylor's offerings, libraries can order physical and digital content through one trusted source, creating a faster, more efficient path to getting content in patrons' hands and on their devices.

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"Axis 360 is the comprehensive, easy to use digital media circulation platform that librarians have been looking for. Combined with physical delivery and collection development services, Axis 360 truly completes our turnkey service solution for libraries," said George Coe, President of Library & Education at Baker & Taylor. "We at Baker & Taylor are pleased to once again deliver the future for our valued library customers who are always looking ahead for the best ways to serve their patrons."

Libraries will find Axis 360 offers several key benefits, such as ease of use and intuitive searching. Axis 360 delivers an unmatched combination of expert collection development services from Baker & Taylor and bundled physical and electronic content in one cart.  

Built on state-of-the-art technology, Axis 360 showcases the digital library collection on a Magic Wall and makes it quick and easy for patrons to check out the titles they want.

Librarians can order physical and electronic content by bundling items in one cart in Baker & Taylor's Title Source 3 – helping them to order the right balance of formats at one time. And, through Baker & Taylor's streamlined ordering process, titles are activated within the library's digital collection on Axis 360 directly upon order placement via Title Source 3.

Library patrons will enjoy how easy it is to find and check out the titles they are searching for. They will also be enthralled with Blio, the interactive, engaging and immersive ereading software linked through cloud-based services with Axis 360. Several digital ereading environments are suited to novels and other non-illustrated works, and Blio handles these with ease, yet takes the ereading experience much further with rich media and full-color content found in highly illustrated, highly graphical titles. Blio digitally delivers that design-rich content without losing the integrity or beauty of the original print layout.

Starting this fall, librarians and patrons at Axis 360-powered libraries will also have access to epub and spoken word audio titles, as well as patron reviews and star ratings.

ALA attendees can see Axis 360 demonstrations at Baker & Taylor's booth (#2049).

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About Baker & Taylor

Baker & Taylor Inc. (www.baker-taylor.com) is the world's largest distributor of books, digital content and entertainment products. The company leverages its unsurpassed worldwide distribution network to deliver rich content in multiple formats, anytime and anywhere. Baker & Taylor offers cutting-edge digital media services and innovative technology platforms to thousands of publishers, libraries and retailers worldwide.  Baker & Taylor also offers industry-leading customized library services and retail merchandising solutions. Baker & Taylor is proud to power Blio (blioreader.com), the world's most flexible, engaging and revolutionary e-reading application. 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.

Baker & Taylor and the Baker & Taylor logo are trademarks of Baker & Taylor Inc. Blio is a trademark of K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc. Other company and product names mentioned for identification purposes may be trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Baker & Taylor