Rochester, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/17/2009 -- Kirtas Technologies, the worldwide leader in bound-book digitization, and OCLC, a global online library service and research organization; have signed an agreement that will enable streamlined access to the ever-increasing numbers of digitized books to users of OCLC’s WorldCat and Kirtasbooks.com.

As part of the agreement, OCLC will now be able to provide its users with data indicating that a book is either available as digitized content or that it can be made available for digitization.

In addition, OCLC will provide Kirtas with bibliographic records for use on www.kirtasbooks.com, ensuring consistent and accurate descriptions of the books being offered for sale by its library content providers.

“The demand for digitized content is only going to increase, so our ability to provide our customers with access to it is essential,” said OCLC Director of Partner Programs Cindy Cunningham. “Providing global access to electronic files streamlines costs and improves efficiencies, which is part of our mission and tremendously important in today’s global economy.”

WorldCat is a global network of library content and services that enables libraries to be more connected, open and productive. Kirtasbooks.com is a retail Web site that allows libraries to offer copies of their public domain books for sale before they are digitized. Books are only digitized once they are ordered allowing consumers to prioritize the demand for content as well as pay for the digitization. Once a book is digitized it can be made available as an eBook or print on demand.

Kirtas Founder and CEO Lotfi Belkhir said, “OCLC is a significant part of the library’s online world, and we’re honored to be partnering with them. Working together to support the initiatives of all our customers is the future of online collaboration and will enable us to provide digital content to scholars and educators around the world.”

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 69,000 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. Search WorldCat.org on the Web at http://www.worldcat.org. For more information, visit http://www.oclc.org.

About Kirtas Technologies
Kirtas Technologies has pioneered and perfected the technology used today in quality, high-speed, nondestructive mass digitization. A proven workflow ensuring superior image quality, advanced search capabilities, unique archiving technology, and extensive metadata enabling multiple output options that stand the test of time are what set us apart and keep Kirtas at the forefront of the digital revolution. Learn more at http://www.kirtas.com, or http://kirtasbooks.com.

Contact: Bob Murphy
614-761-5136
murphyb@oclc.org

Contact: Todd Whiting
585-924-2420 x2248
twhiting@kirtas.com
http://www.kirtas.com
http://www.kirtasbooks.com