Dear Congress, Libraries are important!

Why are libraries so essential? To touch on every aspect of libraries’ importance, we’d be here all day. In short, libraries are business-building, job-creating, workforce-preparing engines of the U.S. economy, and America needs them to thrive. That’s why it is so necessary to advocate for federal library funding as Congress prepares the 2018 fiscal year budget.

Today, Baker & Taylor, along with a handful of other American businesses, unveiled the Corporate Committee for Library Investment, an ad hoc group of companies conceived by Gale, a Cengage company, and the American Library Association. Their goal? To educate Congress and other federal policymakers about the tremendous value of libraries for all kinds of American businesses and taxpayers in an effort to maximize federal library funding.

Now more than ever, America’s public libraries are reaching deep into all facets of the communities they serve offering patrons vital services that are having a profound impact on their lives.
— David Cully, President, Baker & Taylor

To start, the CCLI delivered a letter signed by businesses of all sizes today to all members of Senate that outlines the importance of libraries and asks senators to urge their colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to save library funding—$186.6 million under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and $27 million for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program (IAL), to be exact.

Baker & Taylor has long been committed to supporting communities through literacy. Without libraries, we can’t do that.

To learn more about the CCLI’s mission to save federal library funding, visit their website at www.fundlibraries.com.

Masterpiece: King Charles III to DVD on June 27

PBS Distribution announced they will be releasing “MASTERPIECE: KING CHARLES III” on DVD.   A willful king ... a prophetic ghost ... family betrayals ... revenge! It sounds like a play by Shakespeare, but it’s a drama about the future. MASTERPIECE presents an adaptation of the Tony-nominated hit Broadway show King Charles III, starring the late Tim Pigott-Smith (The Jewel in the Crown, Downton Abbey) as Prince Charles after his accession to the throne, sometime in the years ahead. “KING CHARLES III” is a co-production with the BBC.

“KING CHARLES III” will be available on DVD June 27, 2017. The run time of the program is approximately 90 minutes and the SRP is $29.99. 

Mr. Pigott-Smith, who died unexpectedly on April 7th, had appeared in several MASTERPIECE productions, including The Jewel in the Crown and most recently Downton Abbey. MASTERPIECE Executive Producer Rebecca Eaton commented, “The MASTERPIECE family is heartbroken at the loss of Tim Pigott-Smith, a wonderful actor and a warm and charming man. We are going to miss him.” King Charles III playwright Mike Bartlett remembered him as “one of the real greats, both as an actor and a man.” 

Beauty and the Beast, Live Action on DVD/BD in June

Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," the live-action adaptation of the studio's animated classic, brought the story and characters audiences know and love to spectacular life and broke box-office records. Now the stunning, cinematic event arrives on DVD and BD on June 6.

Fans who bring home "Beauty and the Beast" can celebrate the release with three ways to watch the movie - the original theatrical cut, the premiere cut with overture, and a musical experience with a sing-along version. The release invites viewers to get up close and personal with the filmmakers and cast to see how this beloved animated film was transformed into a new live-action classic, from the first enchanted table read to a fascinating look at how the film was brought to life utilizing lavish sets, elaborately designed costumes and props, and state-of the-art technology.

A feature on the amazing women behind the enchanted tale hosted by Emma Watson; and over 10 minutes of deleted scenes along with musical extras, including the "Beauty and the Beast" music video starring Ariana Grande and John Legend, Celine Dion's heartfelt take on the new song "How Does a Moment Last Forever," and jump directly to all you favorite unforgettable songs.

Emily Dickinson story, A QUIET PASSION, Releases on DVD/BD on July 1

Acclaimed actress Cynthia Nixon delivers a triumphant performance as the great 19th century American poet Emily Dickinson in the richly detailed biographical portrait A QUIET PASSION, written and directed by the renowned British filmmaker Terence Davies (The Deep Blue Sea).
In a highly lauded star turn, Cynthia Nixon (Sex and The City franchise) personifies the wit, intellectual independence and pathos of the poet whose genius only came to be recognized after her death. A QUIET PASSION exquisitely evokes Dickinson's deep attachment to her close-knit family along with the manners, mores and spiritual convictions of her time that she struggled with and transcended in her poetry, leading to her later years as a brilliant but reclusive and unrecognized artist.
Also featured in the film are such talents as Jennifer Ehle (Contagion, Zero Dark Sixty) and Keith Carradine (TV’s Madame Secretary), who take on the roles of Emily’s sister and father, respectively.

PRESENTING…THE WHO- Live at the Isle of Wight 2004

On June 2, 2017, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Live At The Isle Of Wight Festival 2004 by The Who on DVD+2CD and Blu-ray+2CD Formats [MSRP $29.98 Blu-ray, $24.98 DVD].

This is the first ever home entertainment release for of this brilliant show, which includes blistering versions of classics like “Substitute”, “Baba O’Riley”, “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, “You Better You Bet”, “I Can’t Explain”, “Pinball Wizard”, “Who Are You”, “My Generation”, “Magic Bus”, and many more!

TO VIEW CLIP OF "NAKED EYE", click here

In 2004, The Who returned to the Isle Of Wight Festival for the first time since their legendary 1970 performance. After a long absence, the festival had been reborn in 2002 and continues to this day. The Who’s UK concerts in 2004 were the first in their home country since the death of founding member / bassist John Entwistle. As the evening shadows lengthened across the festival site, The Who took to the stage and delivered an incendiary performance packed with hit singles and classic album tracks. The concert more than lived up to the fans’ expectations and memories of 1970.

"American Epic:The Collection" and "American Epic: The Soundtrack" Releases May 12

Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release AMERICAN EPIC: The Collection, a 5-CD/100 song deluxe box set, and AMERICAN EPIC: The Soundtrack, a single disc anthology of 15 songs featured in the AMERICAN EPIC three-part historical
documentary on 1CD on Friday, May 12.

AMERICAN EPIC: The Collection and AMERICAN EPIC: The Soundtrack--each available as physical product--lead the way for a series of releases of music associated with the film series AMERICAN EPIC, produced by Allison McGourty, Duke Erikson and Directed by Bernard MacMahon, premiering in the U.S. on PBS on Tuesdays May 16, 23 and 30 at 9 p.m. (check local listings)

The AMERICAN EPIC historical documentaries are a journey back in time to the "Big Bang" of modern popular music.

In the 1920s, as radio took over the pop music business, record companies were forced to leave their studios in major cities in search of new styles and markets. Ranging the mountains, prairies, rural villages, and urban ghettos of America, they discovered a wealth of unexpected talent. The recordings they made of all the ethnic groups of America democratized the nation and gave a voice to everyone. Country singers in the Appalachians, Blues guitarists in the Mississippi Delta, Gospel preachers across the south, Cajun fiddlers in Louisiana, Tejano groups from the Texas Mexico border, Native American drummers in Arizona, and Hawaiian musicians were all recorded. For the first time, a woman picking cotton in Mississippi, a coalminer in Virginia or a tobacco farmer in Tennessee could have their thoughts and feelings heard on records played in living rooms across the country. It was the first time America heard itself.

Disney's Bambi Returns to Home Entertainment in June

"Bambi" arrives home on June 6 with new bonus features, including recordings of Walt Disney!

"Bambi," which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, joins the Collection on Blu-ray and DVD on June 6. The Signature Collection release includes a variety of new bonus material, including recordings of Walt Disney discussing the challenges and triumphs during the production of "Bambi;" deleted scenes and characters; stories and effects that "Bambi" had on the Studio, other films and artists; and much, much more.
Order now!