National Geographic Society has called on Extensis’ Universal Type Server to manage its records of over 10,000 fonts. Distributing fonts and maintaining licensing control is an essential effort when considering the size of National Geographic’s library and the number of its publications.

Extensis, a provider of font management and digital asset managing software, has already collaborated with many other major publishers as well as Conde Nast and Future Publishing. Vice president of publishing scheme for National Geographic Dave E. Smith describes Extensis’ system as more robust than the before system.

To elaborate, the Universal Type Server will now allow National Geographic to classify, package and distribute the appropriate fonts to the creative directors who need them. Additionally, the system will allow easier right to use to control, track or relocate fonts as necessary. Smith stresses, it’s crucial that we fulfill with font license terms without hindering manufacture work. Universal Type Server allows us to manage font allocation and use across our organization while delegating some control and freedom to our publishing groups.

Smith also suggests that the company’s new system will be most useful for the book-publishing group, because they typically rely on a large number of fonts to produce a variety of book titles. However, the system is a welcome addition across all groups for the reason that Smith says that the fonts are part of our brand, they are tied together.