3M Library Systems in a partnership

T. PAUL, USA: 3M Library Systems and Polaris Library Systems announce a strategic partnership that will make browsing and checking out eBooks simpler than ever, as per a press release.

The release states: 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 catalog (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.

“Libraries and patrons have been asking for a simpler way to incorporate eBooks into their catalogs, and we are proud to be a leader in answering that need,” said Matt Tempelis, global business manager, 3M Cloud Library. “This integration will notably improve the patron experience, as well as the library’s ability to gather circulation data. We are excited about this partnership and our ongoing work to connect patrons to library collections.”

Further it stated: 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.