Baker & Taylor Unveils First Phase of Integrated Digital Media Distribution Platform
Charlotte, N.C.-based distributor Baker & Taylor Inc. has launched the first phase of its integrated digital media distribution platform through a licensing partnership with ebrary, an e-content services and technologies provider headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif. The new platform will make electronic and print titles a one-stop-shopping experience for Baker & Taylor customers.
The partnership enables Baker & Taylor to develop its own digital content products and services, as well as to integrate tens of thousands of e-books and other titles that ebrary has aggregated from more than 350 publishers. The new Baker & Taylor digital media distribution platform will be integrated to deliver physical and digital content across its customer markets.
"This is the first piece of a comprehensive digital supply chain we will be rolling out in the coming weeks," says Baker & Taylor CEO Tom Morgan. "We took great care to choose the best technology available, so that we can offer our customers the broadest flexibility, the best tools and continual innovation. It's perfect market timing for us—our customers are ready and eager for bundled physical and digital products and services."
"This gives publishers a premium avenue to distribute their content in both print and electronic formats," says George Coe, president of library & education for Baker & Taylor. "There is already great demand in the academic library market, but this digital infrastructure will also serve the growing needs of our government, corporate and international customers as we integrate collection development, cataloging and workflow services with the advanced technology and usage statistics in the ebrary platform."
"By integrating our technology and products within Baker & Taylor's infrastructure and workflow, librarians now have greater access to both print and digital content, publishers see new revenue streams, and end-users have the tools they need to discover, use and manage digital information," says ebrary President Kevin Sayar. "Our partnership with Baker & Taylor will fundamentally change the dynamics of the print and digital content industry."