netLibrary eBooks Now Available Through Blackwell's Collection Manager; Integration Streamlines Acquisitions and Collection Development for eBooks.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 2001

netLibrary, Inc. and Blackwell's Book Services today announced the integration of netLibrary eBooks in Collection Manager, Blackwell's web-based collection development and acquisitions tool.

Available free of charge to Blackwell's customers, Collection Manager now provides access to netLibrary's complete collection of more than 34,000 titles.

"The integration of netLibrary titles into Collection Manager makes it easier for library customers to order eBooks in their regular workflow," said Ann Scully, netLibrary's Manager of Channel Program Development. "By working together, we're creating new solutions to meet the needs of today's librarians."

Collection Manager can now be used to directly enter firm orders for netLibrary eBooks in Blackwell's system and to review the status of orders. Faculty and library selectors can create requests for any title in Collection Manager, adding notes and other ordering information. Titles can also be put on hold for later review. "Ordering online in Collection Manager offers precise ordering of correct editions," said Matt Nauman, Blackwell's Director of Publisher Relations. "Orders from Collection Manager are updated and processed with current status daily."

With the integration, Blackwell's customers will be able to search for eBook titles using key numeric criteria, such as ISBN, LCCN, or using keyword searching by title, author, publisher, or series title. For each title, Blackwell's customers will have access to detailed bibliographic information, including series title, alternative editions, publications status, current list prices, and publisher.

Collection Manager also allows Blackwell's customers to export files of MARC selection records from Blackwell's FTP servers. These records can include the ordering information added when creating a request or order in Collection Manager, reducing errors caused by manual re-keying of data, and reducing the cost of searching for and downloading bibliographic records to create orders. Additionally, Collection Manager can provide reports announcing when new titles have been published that match a library's profile and subprofiles.

netLibrary eBook titles integrated into Collection Manager will also be displayed as alternative editions when Blackwell's customers review title information for print books. Collection Manager offers an "Editions" link that leads to a display of alternative formats or editions. The link displays bibliographic information, price, publication status, and any library requests or orders for each edition. "Having this information at hand can avoid duplication of orders between alternative editions and formats," said Nauman.

Collection Manager is available free of charge to Blackwell's customers. Access to Collection Manager can be requested from Blackwell's Web site, or by contacting a Blackwell Customer Service representative.

About netLibrary

netLibrary (www.netLibrary.com) is the leading provider of eBooks and Internet-based content management services. Hundreds of publishers of academic, professional, reference, and scholarly books have adopted netLibrary's digital rights management infrastructure. netLibrary develops, archives, hosts, and securely distributes eBooks and print-ready files through a variety of channels, including academic, corporate, public, and school libraries. netLibrary eBooks are full-text searchable and available for use on personal computers in online and offline formats.

About Blackwell's Book Services

Blackwell's Book Services (BBS) provides a full range of traditional library bookselling services integrated with the latest in library technology and technical services. The company specializes in the supply of books and value-added bibliographic products and services to over 15,000 academic, research and special libraries in over 120 countries around the world. Blackwell's Book Services firm order service covers virtually the entire publication output of close to 50,000 scholarly, professional, and trade presses. Blackwell's Book Services headquarters are located in Lake Oswego, Oregon, with offices in Oxford, England, Sydney, Australia, and Blackwood, New Jersey. Other Blackwell, Ltd. divisions include publishing and retail bookstores.