3M has just signed on a number of eBook publishing companies that expand its vast repertoire of eBooks to over 200,000. Today the company announced new partnerships with INscribe Digital, Smashwords, The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group and the National Book Network.
The agreements with these new companies will add 100,000 books within 90 days to their Cloud Library system. Combined with 3M Cloud Library’s existing relationships with more than 40 major publishers, these new partnerships help 3M Library Systems offer a broad variety of content from both new and established authors.
“The incorporation of these titles into the 3M Cloud Library collection will bring readers access to thousands of new voices in publishing,” said Tom Mercer, 3M Library Systems Digital Business Development Leader. “These partnerships exemplify our dedication to continually expanding our offerings, and we’re proud to help libraries and their patrons gain simple access to the independent voices in eBooks.”
3M will be attending Book Expo America next month and will shed more light on the semantics of their publishing agreements. We will be live on the scene and bring you some great interviews and video on their new systems.
[showhide type=’pressrelease’]ST. PAUL, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–3M Library Systems will feature its growing list of offerings for the 3M Cloud Library eBook Lending Service at Book Expo America 2012, to be held June 4-7 at the Javits Center in New York City. Visitors to the 3M Library Systems booth, DZ2417, will learn about 3M Cloud Library’s new partnerships with INscribe Digital, Smashwords, The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group and the National Book Network (NBN) which are increasing the eBook system’s total list of offerings to more than 200,000 titles from over 300 publishers.
“The incorporation of these titles into the 3M Cloud Library collection will bring readers access to thousands of new voices in publishing”
The new partnership with INscribe Digital – a digital publishing services provider of global eBook distribution, content conversion and marketing services to the publishing community – will help the 3M Cloud Library system dramatically expand its offerings with emerging publishers. INscribe Digital offers flexible and scalable solutions for publishers of all sizes, as well as agents and authors, to guide them through the constantly evolving digital publishing marketplace. The partnership provides access to more than 25 publishers and will increase the speed at which small publishers can add their content to the 3M Cloud Library catalog.
3M will also share details of its partnership with Smashwords, the leading eBook publishing platform representing over 40,000 independent authors and small publishers around the world. Additional publishing support comes from new partnerships with The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group and NBN, providing the 3M Cloud Library catalog with a diverse mix of academic, reference, and general interest books from over 75 publishers including AAA Publishing, C&T Publishing, Down East, and Learning Express.
These collections add more than 100,000 titles, significantly growing 3M Cloud Library’s total offerings. Combined with 3M Cloud Library’s existing relationships with more than 40 major publishers, these new partnerships help 3M Library Systems offer a broad variety of content from both new and established authors.
“The incorporation of these titles into the 3M Cloud Library collection will bring readers access to thousands of new voices in publishing,” said Tom Mercer, 3M Library Systems Digital Business Development Leader. “These partnerships exemplify our dedication to continually expanding our offerings, and we’re proud to help libraries and their patrons gain simple access to the independent voices in eBooks.”
Titles from INscribe, Smashwords, Rowman & Littlefield and NBN are expected to begin appearing in the 3M Cloud Library within 90 days, pending completion of technical integrations with the distributors.
3M Cloud Library is a turnkey system for digital reading, offering libraries an easy-to-use system that provides digital content and in-library hardware, along with apps for borrowing and reading. Patrons can view content on a 3M eReader that they check out from the library, or can access the system on their own devices with an easy-to-install app (currently available on Android and iOS platforms). The 3M Cloud Library app does not require an Adobe ID, and lets patrons simply select their library and enter their library card number to gain access to the system and start reading.
The 3M Cloud Library service has been launched at libraries across the country and is deploying to new libraries each month. For more information about the 3M Cloud Library eLending system, visit 3M.com/Cloud.
About 3M Library Systems
3M Library Systems is committed to helping libraries thrive by providing cutting edge technologies including RFID, automated materials handling (AMH), self check and security solutions, as well as our latest innovation 3M Cloud Library, the fastest growing eBook Lending Service. Finding the technology solution that is right for each unique library, 3M’s promise is to deliver a long term partnership that is built to exceed expectations. Follow us on Twitter @3MLibrary or visit www.3M.com/us/library.
About 3M
3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Our culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $30 billion in sales, 3M employs 84,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 65 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter.
About INscribe Digital
INscribe Digital (parent company Isolation Network) leverages a decade of experience in delivering music and other digital media assets to leading retailers worldwide to an evolving publishing industry. A seasoned team of book industry professionals provides strategic publishing advice; and, through strong digital partners, INscribe offers flexible and scalable solutions for publishers of all sizes, as well as agents and authors. The INscribe Client Console provides sales transparency and removes complexity from the digital administration and distribution process. Our team is ready to deliver customized solutions for production, conversion, and distribution to a variety of global retailers and eReading devices, marketing and sales reporting to our partners. For more information, visit www.INscribeDigital.com.
About Smashwords, Inc.
Privately held Smashwords operates the world’s leading eBook publishing and distribution platform serving over 40,000 authors, publishers and literary agents who distribute over 125,000 eBooks with Smashwords. Smashwords makes it fast, free and easy for any author or publisher, anywhere in the world, to quickly release and distribute multi-format eBooks. The Smashwords Dashboard enables efficient, centralized control of titles, pricing, metadata updates, distribution channels and sales reporting. Smashwords distributes to leading online retailers such as the Apple iBookstore (32 countries), Barnes & Noble, Sony, Kobo, Diesel eBooks and Baker & Taylor. Multiple new channels, including 3M Cloud Library and txtr, are under development. Smashwords is based in Los Gatos, California, and can be reached on the web at http://www.smashwords.com. Visit the official Smashwords blog at http://blog.smashwords.com/.
About The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group is one of the largest and fastest growing independent publishers and distributors in North America. The company publishes under a dozen imprints in virtually all fields in the humanities and social sciences, totaling 1,500 academic, reference, and general interest books each year in addition to several journals in various academic and professional areas. For more information, visit https://rowman.com/.
About National Book Network
NBN is an independent, full-service sales, marketing, and distribution company serving North American and overseas independent publishers of non-fiction, fiction, and children’s titles. We provide sales, marketing, order fulfillment, and credit and collections services. Learn more at http://www.nbnbooks.com/.[/showhide]
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.