Baker & Taylor's MyLibraryBookstore Provides Customized eCommerce Services for Libraries, Enabling Patron Purchasing via Axis 360

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Baker & Taylor, the world's largest distributor of digital and physical books and entertainment products, announced today that its MyLibraryBookstore ecommerce solution for libraries has been integrated with the Axis 360 digital media platform. MyLibraryBookstore, which powers customized bookstores and patron-direct fulfillment of books, movies and music, has been expanded to offer library users the option to buy ebooks and digital audiobooks via Axis 360 with a simple click.

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Queens Library in Jamaica, New York is the first library to offer patrons the ability to buy print and digital content through Axis 360, Baker & Taylor's revolutionary digital media circulation platform.

Now patrons who borrow digital books and audiobooks from Queens Library's Axis 360 website can also purchase content they would like to own by clicking a "Buy Now" button, which provides a direct link to the library's MyLibraryBookstore ecommerce site.

MyLibraryBookstore websites are customized for each library and operate as an extension of the library's service to patrons. Baker & Taylor handles all of the ecommerce duties such as credit card processing and order fulfillment. Digital purchases are processed immediately and offer patrons a choice in download formats. For shipping physical products, with four warehouses strategically located around the country, Baker & Taylor is able to ensure customer orders are shipped promptly, in most cases within one day. A library offering the MyLibraryBookstore customized solution receives a share of net profits generated from sales at that website.

MyLibraryBookstore's inclusion of digital content will help libraries such as Queens, one of the largest library systems in the world, meet their patrons' growing needs.

"MyLibraryBookstore and Axis 360 together make it easy for Queens Library's customers to support the library in a flexible, seamless environment. Buy or borrow, digital, print or merchandise, it is all available to them in one Queens Library-branded space," said Thomas W. Galante, President and CEO, Queens Library.

"The role of the library has expanded beyond providing shelves of books for people to borrow and read. As an extension of their service, libraries can now sell an ebook to a patron who may choose not to wait in a long holds queue," said George Coe, President of Baker & Taylor's Library & Education division. "When there is a 'Buy Now' option, some patrons will elect to purchase the book rather than wait, especially if they know the purchase is going to benefit the library. It's a wonderful, virtuous circle within the community and we are very proud to have been selected by Queens Library to power their ecommerce program."

Baker & Taylor also offers marketing materials to help libraries advertise and build awareness of their MyLibraryBookstore service. Through CustomReach, Baker & Taylor's marketing-on-demand website, libraries can select and customize bookmarks, posters and more to promote their MyLibraryBookstore service and its benefits to the library and the community.

"We understand the success of the program depends on informing the community, so we offer materials to help libraries build awareness and drive usage of the service," Coe said.

About Baker & Taylor
Baker & Taylor, Inc. 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.