Baker & Taylor Inks Deal with PublishAmerica for Digital Printing, Distribution

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Baker & Taylor Inc., the world's largest distributor of physical and digital books and entertainment products, today announced it has signed an agreement for its TextStream Digital Print Service to print and fulfill orders for PublishAmerica's catalogue of more than 40,000 titles. PublishAmerica's titles – largely fiction and non-fiction stories of triumph over hardship – will also be available to Baker & Taylor's worldwide network of library and retail customers.

"This collaboration illustrates Baker & Taylor's position as the trusted go-to provider of print and electronic products and services for publishers," said Tom Morgan, CEO of Baker & Taylor. "TextStream enables publishers to operate more efficiently and more quickly deliver the books that readers want when they want them."

Its deal with PublishAmerica is Baker & Taylor's latest step in expanding TextStream's presence in the publishing community. TextStream provides publishers with a full range of print-on-demand/print-to-order services, with the widest variety of formats and other options in the industry. TextStream's flexibility and industry-leading customer reach is especially advantageous to PublishAmerica's authors, who are aiming to get their books noticed – often one or a handful of copies at a time.

"We chose Baker & Taylor because of its extensive distribution network, its incredible ability to manage the logistics of shipping and handling a large number of small orders to multiple locations, and the completeness of its printing package," said Willem Meiners, PublishAmerica co-founder.

PublishAmerica is a leading U.S. publisher whose specialty is working with and bringing to market unknown authors. Its partnership with Baker & Taylor for TextStream Digital Print Services and consumer direct fulfillment will give PublishAmerica's clients access to Baker & Taylor's more than 44,000 retail and library customers worldwide. This provides an extensive new audience for PublishAmerica's authors and titles.

About Baker & Taylor

Baker & Taylor Inc. (www.baker-taylor.com) is a global information and entertainment services company that offers print and digital books and entertainment products along with value-added services to libraries, educational institutions and retailers. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the company has been in existence for more than 180 years, developing long-term relationships with major suppliers, including book publishers, movie studios and music labels. Baker & Taylor maintains one of the largest combined in-stock book, video and music inventories in the United States, and services the broadest customer base in the industry. 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.

About PublishAmerica (www.publishamerica.com)

PublishAmerica is the home of 40,000 talented authors. PublishAmerica is a traditional publishing company whose primary goal is to encourage and promote the works of new, previously undiscovered writers. Like more mainstream publishers, PublishAmerica pays its authors advances and royalties and makes its books available in both the United States and Europe through all bookstores. PublishAmerica offers a distinctly personal, supportive alternative to vanity presses and less accessible publishers.

SOURCE Baker & Taylor Inc.