From the St. Paul Pioneer Press:
3M Co.’s new cloud library system will touch down first in St. Paul.
With its own 3M-branded e-reader and software that’s compatible with many tablet devices, the Maplewood-based industrial manufacturer is looking to expand its presence in libraries.
The first step for that new business line comes next month, when 3M’s new e-book technology – including e-readers that can be checked out by patrons – is introduced in the St. Paul Public Library system.
[Clip]
While txtr is doing the software development for 3M’s cloud library system, 3M decided to contract with a different supplier for the actual 3M-branded reader, Mercer said.
[Clip]
St. Paul’s Sun Ray library branch – just blocks from 3M’s world headquarters – will be a focal point for the initial deployment of 3M’s cloud system. A 3M Discovery Terminal is set to be in place there by the middle of next month, [Tom] Mercer, [product manager for the 3M Cloud Library e-Book lending service] said.
From its broader line of library products, 3M has provided the Sun Ray branch with radio-frequency identification tags, security gates and other devices to give the branch the latest technology.
“We want (Sun Ray) to be a living lab,” for the 3M products, Mercer said. Because it’s so close by, 3M employees often are on site, and “our engineers interact with patrons and librarians.”
About Gary Price
