Smashwords has just ironed out an e-book distribution agreement to Bibliotheca and the 3M CloudLibrary. Starting next week libraries will have the option to purchase 300,000 indie titles and have their patrons borrow them online.
Smashwords offers indie authors and small independent presses unparalleled distribution to approximately 30,000 public and academic libraries around the world. With the addition of bibliotheca, the Smashwords distribution network reaches most major library e-book platforms including OverDrive, Baker & Taylor Axis 360, Gardners UK (Askews & Holts and VLeBooks) and Odilo.
Once bibliotheca completes their ingestion of Smashwords titles, Smashwords will support bibliotheca’s merchandising efforts by providing regular “Smashwords Hotlists” of top performing preorders and other recommended bestsellers. The sales and merchandising teams at Bibliotheca can use these buylists to share purchase recommendations with collection development managers at libraries.
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.
