Recorded Books Partners With FastPencil, Will Market Tools For Self-Publishers to Public Libraries

Public libraries as a place (both physically and virtually) offering services and tools to library users who want to write and self-publish a printed book or ebook has picked-up some steam with a well-known provider of library services and content, Recorded Books, announcing a new partnership.
Today, Recorded Books announced that they’ve partnered with FastPencil, a company that provides a variety of online tools and services (writing, collaboration, marketing, etc.) for those who want to self-publish.
Recorded Books will market the service to public libraries as Fast Pencil for Libraries.
From Today’s Announcement:

“This unique service is a game-changer in the publishing and library industry,” said Rich Freese, Recorded Books president and CEO. “FastPencil for Libraries removes the hurdles that inherently come with traditional book publishing, making it possible for authors to collaborate with their local library to write and prepare their own books for publication.”
FastPencil’s powerful technology provides libraries with an end-to-end publishing network that helps authors write, manage, convert and distribute books and eBooks. With access to robust management capabilities, libraries can also ingest, store and post library content to patrons.

Today’s partnership announcement from Recorded Books and their RB Digital brand comes eleven days ago they a announced a partnership with BenchPrep, a company that provides “adaptive” online test prep services (AP, GED, GRE, etc.).
In early February 2014, Recorded Books was acquired by Wasserstein & Co., a private equity firm.

Filed under: Companies (Publishers/Vendors), Libraries, Management and Leadership, News, Patrons and Users, Public Libraries, Publishing