Penguin Group to Distribute eBooks to Public Libraries via Axis 360

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Baker & Taylor, the world's largest distributor of digital and physical books and entertainment products, today announced that Penguin Group (USA) LLC's ebooks are available to all public libraries and consortia using the Axis 360 digital media platform.

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In Fall 2012, two Axis 360 libraries participated in a test program circulating select Penguin Group ebooks to patrons. As a result of the successful partnering with the Los Angeles Public Library and Cuyahoga County Public Library, Penguin is now making its full ebook catalog, including DK titles, available to all public libraries using Axis 360.

"We want to give our sincere thanks to the Los Angeles Public Library and the Cuyahoga County Public Library for participating in the test, whose outcome is that all public libraries will now be able to have access to high-demand content from Penguin Group," said George Coe, President of Baker & Taylor's Library & Education division. "It speaks to Penguin trusting Baker & Taylor. And it's an expression of Baker & Taylor's long-standing relationship with the publisher community."

Baker & Taylor will make Penguin Group ebooks available to all public library customers through its comprehensive Title Source™ 3 selection and acquisitions tool. eBooks will then be available for patrons to discover, download and read through the Axis 360 digital media platform. Titles will also be incorporated into Baker & Taylor's FirstLook new title notifications plans, and throughout the full range of collection development programs that Baker & Taylor provides its customers for title selection and fulfillment in physical and digital formats.

Axis 360 delivers digital audiobooks and ebooks for library users in EPUB, PDF and Blio formats to PC and Mac computers, laptops and netbooks, to smartphones and tablets running on Android and iOS, and to popular ereaders such as NOOK^®, Sony Reader™ and Kobo™.

About Baker & Taylor
Baker & Taylor is the world's largest 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 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.

SOURCE Baker & Taylor