Library solutions provider 3M Library Systems and Polaris Library Systems have announced a strategic partnership that will make browsing and checking out eBooks simpler. The 3M Cloud Library eBook Lending Service will now be integrated with the Polaris Integrated Library System (ILS), allowing patrons at participating libraries to discover both physical and digital collections from wherever they are browsing - the library's own public access catalogue (PAC) or from the 3M Cloud Library applications. The new partnership will be showcased at the Public Library Association 2012 Conference, beginning on March 13 in Philadelphia, Pa.
This first-of-its-kind integration between an ILS and eBook service is projected to bring added convenience to library patrons, who will now be able to browse and check out both physical books and eBooks from one unified interface. The system will also enable unified account profiles, where users will be able to view status updates or receive notifications for all of their materials - both physical and digital. Additionally, with the integrated system, statistics on 3M eBooks will be collected in real time and included in circulation reports - a valuable asset for librarians.
The added ease-of-use for Polaris libraries and their patrons builds on the 3M Cloud Library's already well-established convenience and simplicity. By providing both digital content and in-library hardware, along with apps for borrowing and reading, the 3M Cloud Library offers a turnkey system for digital reading. Patrons can view content on a 3M eReader that they check out from the library, or can access the system on their own devices with an easy-to-install app (currently available on Android, iOS, and PC platforms). With Polaris integration, the 3M Cloud Library apps now will allow the patron to view and place holds on physical materials as well as easily check out and read popular eBook titles.
The 3M Cloud Library service is currently in use at 10 beta sites across the US. In April, general release installations will be performed for 30 additional library systems. Patrons of these libraries will gain access to content from a growing list of more than 40 publishers, with content offerings totaling well over 100,000 titles.
