NetLibrary to offer Blackstone eAudiobooks through subscription

DUBLIN, Ohio, USA,  11 January 2008 —NetLibrary, OCLC's platform for eContent, will offer downloadable eAudiobooks from Blackstone Audio through subscription as well as its current purchase program beginning March 3, 2008.

Through an expanded partnership with Blackstone Audio, the third largest producer of unabridged audiobooks in the United States, NetLibrary will offer libraries an extensive collection of 1,800 eAudiobook titles available on a subscription basis. Approximately 15 to 25 new titles will be added to the collection each month at no additional cost.

Key subject areas in the Blackstone eAudiobook collection include Fiction and Literature, Biography, Business, Religion, Philosophy, Science Fiction, Non-Fiction, Mystery and Suspense. The collection includes popular titles such as Charlie Wilson’s War by George Crile, and I Am Legend by Richard Matheson.

"Blackstone Audio has enjoyed a successful partnership with NetLibrary as a provider of eAudiobooks for purchase," said Steve King, Director of Digital Sales, Blackstone Audio.  "We anticipate continued success with NetLibrary in offering a subscription option to libraries that would prefer the convenience of this model."

The Blackstone eAudiobook collection is delivered via the NetLibrary platform, in WMA format, seamlessly integrating with existing NetLibrary eBook and eAudiobook holdings.

The subscription is delivered under a simultaneous, multi-user access model. Any number of patrons can access the same eAudiobook title at the same time through the Internet. Users will have the ability to check out and download up to 10 titles at one time for a period of 21 days.

"Libraries will find the Blackstone Audio collection particularly attractive because it offers a variety of best-selling and award-winning titles most popular with patrons today," said Chip Nilges, Vice President, OCLC Business Development. "By offering the option to subscribe or purchase from the Blackstone eAudiobooks collection, libraries and consortia can budget and plan according to their unique needs for eAudiobooks."

More information on about NetLibrary eAudiobooks can be found at www.oclc.org/audiobooks/default.htm.

About Blackstone Audio
Established in 1987, Blackstone Audio of Ashland, Oregon is the largest independent audiobook producer in the country. Each month, Blackstone presents a list of 25-30 of the hottest new titles, including bestselling fiction, history, mysteries, movie tie-ins, science fiction, children's literature and classics read by award-winning narrators. For more information, visit Blackstone's Web site at www.blackstoneaudio.com/.

About OCLC
Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, OCLC is a nonprofit library service and research organization that has provided computer-based cataloging, reference, resource sharing, eContent, preservation, library management and Web services to 60,000 libraries in 112 countries and territories. OCLC and its member libraries worldwide have created and maintain WorldCat, the world's richest online resource for finding library materials. For more information, visit www.oclc.org/.

OCLC NetLibrary provides content and technical delivery solutions to institutional libraries, corporations and government agencies that facilitate the purchase, management and distribution of research, reference, digital learning and general interest content via Web-based technologies. NetLibrary's eContent solution is the most broadly adopted in the market, making more than 150,000 eBooks, 6,000 eJournals, 5,600 eAudiobooks, and 87 databases available through more than 15,000 libraries worldwide. For more information, visit www.oclc.org/netlibrary/.

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