NetLibrary to distribute Random House titles as eAudiobooks

DUBLIN, Ohio, USA,  10 January 2007 —NetLibrary, a division of OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc., and a leading platform for eContent to libraries worldwide, has announced an agreement with Random House Audio Group to distribute Books on Tape, Listening Library and Living Language titles.  Librarians will be able to select from a growing catalog of more than 600 Books on Tape titles, with new releases added on a monthly basis.

Books on Tape Audio Group is a division of Random House, Inc., the world's largest English-language general trade book publisher.  The Books on Tape collection includes bestselling and award-winning spoken-word material ranging from adult unabridged fiction and nonfiction from Books on Tape, to children's audiobooks from Listening Library, to self-study foreign language programs from Living Language.  Librarians can pre-order Books on Tape titles now for delivery in February 2007.  NetLibrary will also waive access fees on purchase of all Books on Tape, Listening Library and Living Language titles made before March 31, 2007.

"We're excited to be working with NetLibrary to make our digital collection available to their large base of libraries and library patrons," said Madeline McIntosh, Senior VP and Publisher, Random House Audio Group.

"Random House already offers a high-quality selection of favorite titles and authors to library users," said Rich Rosy, Vice President of Content Management, OCLC.  "Now, library users will be able to listen to their favorite Books on Tape, Living Language and Listening Library titles and authors anytime, anywhere.  Audiobooks are an easy way to enjoy books on-the-go."

Authors featured in the initial list from Books on Tape include: Mitch Albom; Maya Angelou; Jane Austen; Ann Brashares; Libba Bray; Meg Cabot; Kate DiCamillo; Charles Dickens; William Faulkner; Sue Grafton; Carl Hiaasen; John Irving; Jonathan Kellerman; Dean Koontz; Lois Lowry; Mary Pope Osborne; Phillip Pullman; Anna Quindlen; Anne Rice; Louis Sachar; Jerry Spinelli; Danielle Steel; and Jules Verne, to name a few.

Library users will be able to search for, preview, download and listen to Books on Tape titles through the NetLibrary platform via the Internet.  Users can download up to 10 high-quality, portable eAudiobooks, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  eAudiobooks will download or play on any desktop or laptop running supported media software programs and operating systems.  Users can also transfer favorite titles to a wide range of supported portable devices, including portable music players and portable media centers.

Users can gain access to the platform in a variety of ways, including through OCLC WorldCat, OCLC Open WorldCat, WorldCat.org, and directly from the NetLibrary platform.

A complete list of titles available from Books on Tape can be viewed at: http://www.netlibrary.com/Librarian/Products/BooksOnTape.aspx.

For more information about eAudiobook titles available through NetLibrary, contact a NetLibrary representative by sending an e-mail to sales@netlibrary.com.

About OCLC
Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, OCLC Online Computer Library Center is a nonprofit organization that has provided computer-based cataloging, reference, resource sharing, eContent and preservation services to 57,000 libraries in 112 countries and territories.  For more information, visit www.oclc.org.

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