Baker & Taylor, Penguin Partner on Library eBook Pilot Program

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Baker & Taylor, the world's largest distributor of digital and physical books and entertainment products, today announced that it is partnering with Penguin Group on a pilot program that will re-introduce Penguin ebooks into selected libraries.

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During the pilot program, Penguin's ebooks will be made available to Los Angeles Public Library and Cuyahoga County Public Library via Baker & Taylor's Axis 360 digital media library platform. Baker & Taylor serves more than 28,000 public, K-12 school and academic libraries in the United States and abroad.

"With deep roots in the library market and longstanding relationships with Penguin and other leading publishers, Baker & Taylor is a natural fit to work on this exciting project," said George Coe, President of Baker & Taylor's Library & Education division. "We are hopeful that this program will prove successful so that more of our library customers can offer this tremendous Penguin content to their patrons."

Tim McCall, Penguin's Vice President of Online Sales and Marketing, said: "Penguin is excited to be partnering with Baker & Taylor to expand our library ebook lending pilot program. Millions of additional library patrons will soon be able to access ebooks published by Penguin. We have always been committed to libraries and initiating this phase of the pilot supports our shared goal of bringing great writers to new readers."

City Librarian John F. Szabo of the Los Angeles Public Library said: "eBook borrowing at the Los Angeles Public Library has more than doubled every year for the past three years. We are pleased to expand our collection of ebooks to meet the tremendous demand from library users."

This ebook pilot by Baker & Taylor and Penguin Group represents the logical evolution of a longstanding partnership between the two companies in serving the library and education channels. Baker & Taylor expects to continue its pioneering work with publishers, making an ever-expanding range of digital materials available to libraries.

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.

About Penguin Group

Penguin Group (USA) Inc. is the U.S. member of the internationally renowned Penguin Group. Penguin Group (USA) is one of the leading U.S. adult and children's trade book publishers, owning a wide range of imprints and trademarks, including Viking, G. P. Putnam's Sons, The Penguin Press, Riverhead Books, Dutton, Penguin Books, Berkley Books, Gotham Books, Portfolio, New American Library, Plume, Tarcher, Philomel, Grosset & Dunlap, Puffin, and Frederick Warne, among others. The Penguin Group (www.penguin.com) is part of Pearson plc, the international media company.

About Los Angeles Public Library

The Los Angeles Public Library (http://www.lapl.org) serves the largest urban population of any library in the country. Its Central Library, 72 branch libraries, more than six million books, and state-of-the-art technology provide everyone with free and easy access to information and the opportunity for life-long learning.

About Cuyahoga County Public Library

Cuyahoga County Public Library ranks as one of the nation's very best public library systems and has the highest per capita circulation. The Library's mission is to be at the center of community life by providing an environment where reading, lifelong learning and civic engagement thrive. For further information, visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org.

SOURCE Baker & Taylor