POMONA, Calif., July 27, 1999. The task of finding out-of-print books on the Internet just got a whole lot easier. Auto-Graphics Inc. (OTCBB:AUGR) today announced that it is providing bibliographic processing and data upgrade services to Alibris, provider of business and consumer used, rare, and out-of-print book solutions. A leader in Internet database resource sharing systems for the library community, Auto-Graphics is leveraging its multi-million-record bibliographic database for the first time in a non-library application.
"Our strategic alliance with Alibris is a natural extension of our library services and fits our corporate direction as a provider of Internet-based services," said William J. Kliss, chief operating officer for Auto-Graphics. "This is an excellent example of how Auto-Graphics is capable of applying our proven library resources and technology to the high-growth Internet market."
As part of the agreement, Auto-Graphics will update Alibris' current database, upgrading it with industry-standard MARC (Machine Readable Cataloging) records. As Alibris secures new materials, they will be matched against Auto-Graphics' database and the title will be processed.
"Alibris' commitment to offering accurate and more complete information on all our books and providing total customer satisfaction just took a giant leap forward with our agreement with Auto-Graphics and the services they bring to the table," said Martin Manley, president and CEO of Alibris. "The real value to our customers is the increased number of access points available for them to find information about a book in our database."
Alibris' enormous stock procured from a worldwide network of dealers requires the type of advanced bibliographic processing and data upgrade services that Auto-Graphics has been offering the library world for years.
A key factor in Alibris' selection of Auto-Graphics is Auto-Graphics' extensive REMARC database. The database contains nearly 4.5 million electronic bibliographic records converted from paper records created by The Library of Congress before it began machine-readable cataloging in 1968. Because of the vast number of out-of-print books that were published before 1968, these records are especially important to Alibris.
Company Information
Auto-Graphics Inc. (OTCBB:AUGR) was founded in 1950. The company is a leading provider of Web-based information publishing and Internet database resource sharing systems, including the Impact line of database and search products and services. Customers include Alibris, Boeing, Houghton Mifflin, and the State of Texas. The company's web site is located at www.auto-graphics.com.
