Ebrary signs 6,000 libraries to digital service

Information distribution service Ebrary Inc., Mountain View Calif., has partnered with six regional library networks to provide digital resources for patrons, the company announced April 2.

Through these arrangements, the company will offer digital content to about 6,000 libraries across the country. For this service, Ebrary will charge an annual license fee for an Web-based implementation that will be co-branded by the participating library system.

The company provides books, journals, periodicals and other online reference documents in the portable document file (PDF) format. It will also offer customizable search and tracking tools as well as integration tools to merge the Ebrary's offering with the libraries' own digital resources, catalog and administrative processes.

The participating library systems are:

*Bibliographical Center for Research, which serves 3,000 libraries through the western United States;

*Michigan Library Consortium, a coalition of 700 libraries in the state;

*Palinet, a network of 600 libraries in the Mid-Atlantic area;

*Nelinet, a network of approximately 700 libraries in the six New England states;

*Wisconsin Library Services, which serves 500 libraries in the state;

*Ohionet, which serves more than 500 libraries in the state.

Christopher Warnock, chief executive offer of Ebrary, said the partnerships validate the company' focus on regional network and consortia pricing.

"Nine out of 10 libraries purchase digital resources either through their regional network, consortium or based upon their recommendations," he said.

Ebrary is privately held company funded by Random House Ventures LLC, New York; Pearson plc, London; and the McGraw-Hill Co., New York.