Baker & Taylor Lands Print-On-Demand Agreements With Two Major University Presses

NEW YORK, May 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Baker & Taylor Inc., the world's largest distributor of physical and digital books and entertainment products, today at BookExpo America announced it has signed agreements for its TextStream Digital Print Service to provide print-to-order services for Baylor University Press and University of Wisconsin Press. Backlists for these presses -- two of the nation's top publishers of scholarly works -- will be available for quick delivery to Baker & Taylor's worldwide network of library and retail customers.

"These agreements with Baylor University Press and University of Wisconsin Press, the publishing arms of two highly respected academic institutions, are the latest chapter in the growth of Baker & Taylor's TextStream," said Tom Morgan, CEO of Baker & Taylor. "We are thrilled they have selected TextStream as a trusted provider of print-on-demand services."

The deals with Baylor University Press and University of Wisconsin Press represent Baker & Taylor's latest expansion of TextStream into the academic publishing community. TextStream provides publishers with a full range of print-on-demand/print-to-order services and a wide variety of binding formats and trim sizes.

"By working together, Baylor University Press, University of Wisconsin Press and Baker & Taylor will work smarter to serve academic customers by quickly getting them the books they want -- one or a handful at a time," said Larry Bennett, Vice President of Digital Print Media for Baker & Taylor. "We are proud to partner with these prestigious institutions."

Combined with Baker & Taylor's unparalleled reach -- particularly into library channels, TextStream is well positioned to serve Baylor University Press and University of Wisconsin Press and their authors, whose titles are in demand by scholars and students around the globe.

"Baker & Taylor's TextStream enables the largest number of academic readers to have access to the largest number of academic books. Baker & Taylor's professionalism is exceeded only by its desire to connect readers with publishers," said Carey C. Newman, Director of Baylor University Press. "We are thrilled to make our relationship with Baker & Taylor stronger and to jointly serve the academic community."

The vast majority of Baylor University Press' and University of Wisconsin Press' sales to Baker & Taylor go through Baker & Taylor's academic unit, YBP Library Services.

"Our partnership with Baker & Taylor's TextStream and YBP Library Services for print-on-demand is a natural progression for our business operations strategy," said Russell Schwalbe, Business Manager of the University of Wisconsin Press. "TextStream provides the ultimate flexibility and incredible global traction with the academic library approval program, while reducing our expenses and getting our content to market faster."

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 Baylor University Press

Established in 1897, Baylor University Press (www.baylorpress.com) publishes books for scholars, students and intellectually curious general readers. With a leading program in religious studies, Baylor University Press also boasts stellar works of social criticism, publishing in the areas of cultural studies, sociology, rhetoric, political science, history, popular culture and literary criticism. Baylor University Press is a member of the Association of American University Presses.

About University of Wisconsin Press

The University of Wisconsin Press (www.uwpress.wisc.edu) was founded in 1936. The Press publishes books and journals. Since its first book appeared in 1937, the Press has published and distributed more than 3,000 titles. The Press has more than 1,400 titles currently in print, including books of general interest, scholarly books covering wide-ranging subjects and regional books about Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest.

SOURCE Baker & Taylor