Date: Mon, 29 Dec 1997 18:26:50 GMT Server: Apache/1.2.4 Last-Modified: Fri, 05 Dec 1997 16:50:04 GMT ETag: "1de229-f69-348830bc" Content-Length: 3945 Accept-Ranges: bytes Connection: close Content-Type: text/html NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO ANNOUNCES

NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO ANNOUNCES NATIONWIDE AGREEMENT
WITH BORDERS BOOKS & MUSIC

-- Innovative Arrangement Makes NPR Products Available In Specially Designed Kiosks --

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 30, 1997 - National Public Radioâ (NPRâ )announced today an innovative agreement with Borders Books & Music. The relationship, which includes the addition of special NPR Town SquareSM kiosks in all of Borders 180 stores nationwide, will help customers easily locate and purchase books and CDs featured on NPR -- making this agreement the first of its magnitude for the organization.

"We’re delighted with the NPR Town Square kiosks," said Delano Lewis, president and CEO of NPR. "This makes it easy for our listeners to connect with their local member stations and find NPR-related products, and books and music they’ve heard about on NPR programs."

The NPR Town Square kiosks are scheduled to appear in every Borders store by the end of October 1997. The kiosks are designed to look like radio transmitter towers and are fitted with listening stations for previewing CDs.

"We think of Borders stores as places for people and communities to gather - in some ways, we serve as modern-day versions of the ‘town square,’ which is why the NPR Town Square kiosks make perfect sense for our stores," said Bob DiRomualdo, CEO of Borders Group, Inc. "In addition, this agreement also exemplifies Borders commitment to facilitate the efforts of non-profit organizations. It’s a win/win relationship for us, NPR and our customers."

Details about the relationship will be announced by NPR CEO Delano Lewis and Borders Group, Inc. CEO Bob DiRomualdo at a special event in the Washington, D.C. Borders store at 7:30 p.m. this evening. The event will feature a performance by Dr. Billy Taylor, host of NPR’s Billy Taylor’s Jazz at the Kennedy Center, as well as comments by Talk of the Nationâ host Ray Suarez.

Borders believes very strongly in the concept it helped to originate more than 25 years ago--comfortable stores for book and music lovers with an extensive selection of titles, community oriented events and an attentive staff-- all in a warm, inviting atmosphere. The company went public in 1995. Borders is a part of Ann Arbor-based Borders Group, Inc., which also owns Waldenbooks Co., Inc., the nation’s largest chain of mall bookstores with over 900 stores throughout the U.S.

National Public Radio, a membership organization of 591 public radio stations nationwide, produces and distributes the award-winning programs All Things Consideredâ , Talk of the Nationâ , Weekend Editionâ and NPR's Performance Todayâ .

 

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