ST. Paul, Minn. – Jan. 17, 2013 – 3M Library Systems will debut several new innovations for its 3M Cloud Library eBook Lending System at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting beginning Jan. 25. Visitors to the 3M booth will be able to preview the system's new Catalog Acquisition Tool and learn about new user-friendly features and integration capabilities that make the 3M Cloud Library the easiest platform for libraries to own and manage.
Improved Catalog Acquisition Tool
The faster, more intuitive Catalog Acquisition Tool makes it simple for libraries to manage their content and generate reports to measure how their collection is performing. With this powerful buying portal, building an eBook collection is easier than ever.
"Our goal for the Cloud Library is to create an unrivaled experience for both librarians and patrons," said Matt Tempelis, global business manager, 3M Cloud Library. "We continue to look for ways to streamline and improve the system, and our success thus far has been the result of listening carefully to feedback from libraries and users."
Improvements have been made to the patron-facing features of the system as well. A new app for Mac users will be showcased at ALA, expanding the list of systems on which patrons can browse, checkout, read and transfer eBooks to eReaders. The 3M Cloud Library app is available for download from the iTunes Store, Google Play and the NOOK Apps Storefront, and eBooks are compatible with PCs and Macs, iPads, iPhones, iPod Touch, NOOK Tablets, Android devices, smartphones and Kobo, Sony and NOOK eReaders.
Integrated Library System Integration Now Live; Publisher Offerings Expanded
Libraries across the country are also taking advantage of the 3M Cloud Library's powerful Application Programming Interface (API) suite, which has the ability to integrate with any Integrated Library System (ILS). The system is now fully integrated and live within the Polaris ILS, allowing patrons at participating libraries to discover, check out and place holds on both physical and digital collections in just one catalog. Similarly, integration with the BiblioCommons system is also complete and live, and 3M's APIs are available to libraries that develop their own interfaces for digital content.
"We've made the Cloud Library to be so simple that almost anything becomes possible," said Tom Mercer, 3M digital library marketing manager. "We're happy to work with librarians and industry vendors to explore and customize how our API suite can work for them."
The latest innovations to the 3M Cloud Library do not end with streamlined collection management and browsing—the 3M Cloud Library also continues to add publishing partners, giving libraries an ever-growing list of eBook options, including titles from the Penguin Group, the University of Chicago Press, Candlewick Press and other major publishers.
3M Library Systems will be located at booth 1939 at the ALA Midwinter Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., from January 25-28. For more information about the 3M Cloud Library, visit 3M.com/cloud.
