Baker & Taylor

Digital Media Library with Blackboard Learn Platform

Charlotte, NC (USA), February 2014 - Baker & Taylor, a premier worldwide distributor of digital and print books and entertainment products, has announced the integration of its Axis 360 digital-media library platform with Blackboard Learn™, Blackboard Inc.'s flagship learning-management system, giving K-12 students and instructors quick access to digital library materials.

The integration gives students and educators an easy way to discover and borrow digital library ebooks and audiobooks from Axis 360 from within Blackboard Learn.

"Integrating the Axis 360 digital-media platform into Blackboard Learn will help smooth the delivery of digital materials into classrooms across the country," said George Coe, President and CEO of Baker & Taylor. "This is an important and fast-growing area. Baker & Taylor and Blackboard recognize the need to stay ahead of technological changes and to offer schools a broad array of materials in formats that students and teachers are demanding."

"We believe that accessible, interactive digital content is a core component of online instruction for K-12 and that it can help create a more immersive, engaging learning experience for young people," said Mark Belles, senior vice president, K-12, Blackboard. "We are excited to partner with Baker & Taylor to make it easy for teachers to find and integrate ebooks and audiobooks into their classrooms and for students to check out and consume them within their learning environment."

Axis 360 gives students the ability to easily borrow and read ebooks in electronic formats that are directly downloaded to computers and mobile devices. Axis 360 works with PCs and Macintosh computers, as well as with mobile Apple iOS and Android devices, including smartphones and tablets. eBooks on Axis 360 are also available for use with the Blio ereader, the multi-‘function reading application that includes embedded tools such as note taking and highlighting, online reference-source linking, font controls, and read-aloud functionality. Blio also offers accessibility features, making it an excellent ebook reading experience for students with reading disabilities or sight impairment. In addition to ebooks, Axis 360 offers digital audio books for student borrowing.