Give Libraries Increased Title Circulation Give Patrons Greater Access to Content

Lake Oswego, OR - January 19, 2006 - Blackwell’s Book Services is pleased to announce our new partnership with Bowker, a leading provider of bibliographic information. Together, Blackwell's and Bowker will offer libraries a Tables of Contents Catalog Enrichment Service -- a one stop service to access the largest database available of tables of contents, author notes, and book jacket summaries. The fully integrated database will be available to customers in March of 2006. Collectively, they will provide a database of 1 million tables of contents, with more than 80,000 new publications being added each year.

Through this partnership, both Blackwell’s and Bowker will offer two options for libraries wanting to increase title circulation. One service option -- MaRC Enrichment -- puts content directly into the library’s catalog by enhancing locally hosted MaRC records. The second option, OPAC Enrichment, allows content to be accessed directly from catalog records by placing links within the full record presentation, or by integrating content into displayed records using XML.

Using a proprietary MaRC record editing capability, Blackwell’s can enrich a library’s catalog records–regardless of where the books were purchased. MaRC Enrichment enables keyword searches at the chapter level, offering patrons a richer experience when exploring library holdings. And once title records have been enriched, the library owns the data -- there is no need to renew or re-subscribe to maintain access.

Syndetic Solutions, a Bowker company, has developed the OPAC Enrichment model that allows libraries to link through the internet to tables of contents, author notes, and summaries.

“We wanted to offer our customers unprecedented access to title information”, said Matt Barnes, VP of Sales and Marketing at Blackwell’s. “This is the experience their patrons are having when using non-library online resources, and now we have brought it to the academic library marketplace.” Angela D'Agostino, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for Bowker, has ascertained that “faculty have found that tables of contents and author notes are invaluable to the development of their curriculum and scholarship. And you know, more is never enough for some patrons, which is why we continue to add over 1,600 tables of contents to our records each week.”

About Blackwell's Book Services
Blackwell’s Book Services (BBS) is based in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and has facilities in Blackwood, New Jersey, as well as in Oxford and Sydney. Blackwell’s Book Services specializes in the supply of books and bibliographic support products to academic, research and leading public libraries throughout the world. It is the market leader in combining traditional bookselling expertise with the latest developments in library technology. For more company details, please visit www.blackwell.com.

About Bowker
Bowker is the world's leading provider of bibliographic information management solutions designed to help publishers, booksellers, and libraries better serve their customers. The company is focused on developing various tools and products that make books easier for people to discover, evaluate, order, and experience, as well as providing services to publishers that help them better understand and meet the interests of readers worldwide. Bowker is a member of the ProQuest family of companies and is headquartered in New Providence, N.J., with additional operations in England and Australia. For more information, please visit www.bowker.com.