The New York Public Library Online Bookstore Opens for Business

New York City, January 19, 1998 --The New York Public Library Online Bookstore is now open for business.

For nearly 100 years, librarians at The New York Public Library have been compiling lists of outstanding books for readers who have walked past the lions and into the 89 library buildings. Now, through today's technology the library is expanding this service and offering to readers everywhere recommendations and opinions about the world of books and authors. The New York Public Library Online Bookstore features books and authors selected by librarians and curators as especially significant or interesting while, at the same time, offering users the added benefit of direct online ordering of books through BarnesandNoble.com.

The Library was the only non-profit organization among the 40 prestigious charter affiliates of BarnesandNoble.com and is one of twelve charter affiliates of BarnesandNoble.com's newly launched Book Benefits Network for non-profit organizations.

By the simple act of entering BarnesandNoble.com from the web pages of the NYPL Online Bookstore, an online book buyer can make an indirect financial contribution to the Library. Private contributions support over a third of NYPL's annual operating budget and a portion of every BarnesandNoble.com sale, when originated from NYPL's web site, goes to support book purchases by The New York Public Library.

The affiliation with BarnesandNoble.com offers visitors to the NYPL Online Bookstore numerous advantages:

• Readers have access to the expert opinions of librarians who are reviewing thousands of books every year.
• Shoppers who enter BarnesandNoble.com through the NYPL Online Bookstore will be eligible for added bonuses, promotions, and contests that will change periodically throughout the year.
• For readers who want to purchase recommended titles, or any of the over one million titles available online, the site offers the convenience of direct online electronic ordering through BarnesandNoble.com.

The New York Public Library has launched this virtual bookstore with Books of the Century, a special list compiled by librarians, of influential works by some of the greatest writers of our times. As the online bookstore evolves, other lists on a wide variety of themes will be added, each reflecting the Librarians' enthusiasm for and love of books, old and new, but most especially an interest in the books and authors beyond the current best-seller lists or events of the day. New lists will be added regularly - for children, for special interests, for holidays, or in support of Library exhibitions or programs.

All of the recommended titles will be available in New York local libraries and bookstores.

NYPL Online Bookstore Fact Sheet

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pro: lp: 1-19-98
thoerenz: pro: 3-20-98
updated: thoerenz: pro: 4-30-98