After a flurry of announcements in recent weeks that both HarperCollins and O’Reilly Media have signed with On Demand Books to make their books available on the company’s Espresso Book Machine, ODB announced its first major Christian publisher contract with Baker Publishing Group. Under the agreement Baker will make substantially all of its entire paperback list available through the EBM network.

“We believe the Espresso Book Machine in a local bookstore offers the book-reading customer the best overall access to printed books at the time they are in store and ready to purchase a title,” says Baker executive v-p of sales and marketing David Lewis, adding that the EBM gives independents a better chance to survive. “It allows a local bookseller to compete on selection with online retailers.”

In June, ODB signed a joint marketing agreement with the Association for Christian Retail to encourage Christian publishers to make their books available on the EBM. ODM also showcased the book machine at the International Christian Retail Show in July.