Baker & Taylor Expands Collection Development Services for Libraries with FirstLook Digital for Electronic Content

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Baker & Taylor Inc., the world's largest distributor of digital and physical books, announced today that it is extending its popular FirstLook title notification service to include digital content. The first in a series of feature enhancements for libraries using Axis 360 that will be released over the coming months, FirstLook Digital enables librarians to identify and purchase important new digital and printed materials at the same time in one seamlessly integrated workflow.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090529/CL24290LOGO )

Leveraging the Title Source 3 collection development tool suite, FirstLook Digital provides libraries with valuable and timely information on new titles that merit consideration for their collections. Libraries can customize FirstLook Digital to their interests and reduce the time they spend on manual searches. The FirstLook Digital service is free to Axis 360 customers.

"By reducing the time involved in identifying and ordering new digital titles, FirstLook Digital helps save librarians time, freeing them to spend more time helping their patrons or addressing other responsibilities," said Martin Warzala, Baker & Taylor's Director of Collection Development. "It allows libraries to have digital collections that are current and available to patrons as soon as the titles are published. With Baker & Taylor, librarians now have all the tools they need in one place, so they can get reliable guidance on and access to new titles across all formats of materials."

The new service draws on Baker & Taylor's extensive title database and is backed by the company's experienced staff of collection development librarians. FirstLook Digital allows customers to receive scheduled Title Source 3 carts, which are organized in children's, teen and adult categories. Baker & Taylor's collection development team can also provide start-up Axis 360 collections tailored to the library's needs and budget.

"We are thrilled to offer the full family of Baker & Taylor's collection development services for our library customers and ultimately for their patrons," Warzala said.

FirstLook Digital brings Baker & Taylor's highly-regarded collection development services into the digital realm, employing the same processes that libraries are already using on Title Source 3 for printed books, books on CD, DVDs and CDs.

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 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, Inc.