More than 250 eBooks have been chosen primarily from the Facts On File and Ferguson Publishing imprints at the middle school level and above, including titles in the areas of careers, teen health and issues, global warming and science.  “By adding these titles to Gale Virtual Reference Library we are providing librarians and students with greater access to our content. We recognize that our customers have a choice in deciding which Ebook platform to use – so whether they choose to use the Infobase EBooks platform or one of our partner’s, our goal is to make sure they get what they need,” commented Mark McDonnell, President of Infobase Publishing.

“These exciting titles reflect the subject areas our customers have expressed interest in, and give users an even broader selection when using Gale Virtual Reference Library,” said Jay Flynn, Gale’s vice president and publisher for social science and K-12.  “This partnership allows libraries to provide access to popular eBooks from Facts On File and Ferguson Publishing along with more than 4,500 existing electronic reference titles from over 80 publishers, all through a single source, expanding the library’s offerings while avoiding duplicated resources.”

Additionally, a library’s Gale Virtual Reference Library eBook collection is cross-searchable with its other Gale resources, including many periodical solutions and resource centers.

Many of the Infobase titles added to Gale Virtual Reference Library are part of popular series including:

Careers

• Career Opportunities
• Ferguson’s Careers in Focus
• Field Guides to Finding a New Career
• Top Careers in Two Years
• Great Careers with a High School Diploma

Environment

• Discovering the Earth
• Energy and the Environment
• Global Warming
• Green Technology
• The Hazardous Earth

Science

• Essentials of Forensic Science
• Facts On File Science Experiments
• Genetics and Evolution
• Global Issues
• The History of Medicine
• Twentieth-Century Science
• Science Encyclopedia

K-12 – Teens

• Teen’s Guides
• The Truth About
• Facts On File Library of Health and Living
• Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Literature
• Encyclopedia of World Religions

For more information, please contact Linda Busse at linda.busse@cengage.com.

About Cengage Learning and Gale
Cengage Learning delivers highly customized learning solutions for colleges, universities, professors, students, libraries, government agencies, corporations and professionals around the world. Gale, part of Cengage Learning, serves the world’s information and education needs through its vast and dynamic content pools, which are used by students and consumers in their libraries, schools and on the Internet. It is best known for the accuracy, breadth and convenience of its data, addressing all types of information needs – from homework help to health questions to business profiles – in a variety of formats.  For more information, visit www.cengage.com or www.gale.com.

About Facts On File
Facts On File, an imprint of Infobase Publishing, is an award-winning publisher of print, eBook, and online reference materials for the school and library market. We specialize in core subject areas, such as history, science, literature, geography, health, and more. Our print titles are authoritative references geared toward the high school, academic, and public library markets. Our online products range from reference and news service databases to eLearning Modules and a streaming video resource. Facts On File has nearly 70 years of service to librarians backing our editorial content and decisions.

About Infobase Publishing
Founded in 1941, Infobase Publishing is one of America’s leading providers of supplemental educational materials to the school and library markets. Product formats include books, eBooks, online resources, videos, and digital products under such well-known names as Facts On File, Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Cambridge Educational, Chelsea House, World Almanac®, Bloom’s Literary Criticism, and Ferguson Publishing. With thousands of titles and numerous award winners, Infobase provides students, librarians, and educators with authoritative, reliable resources supporting the curriculum across a wide variety of subject areas—from history, science, and literature to careers, health, and social issues.

“Questia has developed excellent products for learners and educators, with quality content and unique technologies created specifically for college students, professors and high school students,” said Patrick C. Sommers, president, Gale. “The business has a solid subscription base and is developing unique applications to extend its reach to users around the world.

“Questia will further broaden Gale’s extensive content base, by adding information from tens of thousands of scholarly books selected from leading publishers to support learning in high school and college. In addition, it will enhance Gale’s offerings with new research and productivity tools, lesson plans and professional development for the classroom,” said Sommers.

“But perhaps most importantly, Questia will expand our depth and reach to users who begin their search for information on the Web,” said Sommers. “A major focus at Gale is reaching users wherever they do their research and connecting them with high-quality content and the resources of their library. We see considerable synergy with Gale’s HighBeam, Encyclopedia.com and AccessMyLibrary services, as well as our library products, and we look forward to the expansion of content and services that will result from this combination of resources.”

Tim Harris, president and CEO, Questia Media, Inc., said, “By joining with Gale, Questia believes its customers will benefit from Gale’s financial strength, complementary content resources and innovative approach to product development. Gale has an outstanding reputation for serving users with quality information products, and we are confident that the combination of resources and talent will ensure ongoing innovation for users.”

Recent product access enhancements introduced by Questia include an iPhone application enabling mobile access to Questia’s entire library, and Research Wizard, a Facebook application that facilitates community research. Gale will support these and develop other new applications to enhance the research experience for users.

Customer service and technical support contacts will remain unchanged for customers at this time. More information about Questia Media is available at www.questia.com.

Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

For more information, please contact Tina Creguer at tina.creguer@cengage.com.

About Cengage Learning and Gale
Cengage Learning delivers highly customized learning solutions for colleges, universities, professors, students, libraries, government agencies, corporations and professionals around the world. Gale, part of Cengage Learning, serves the world’s information and education needs through its vast and dynamic content pools, which are used by students and consumers in their libraries, schools and on the Internet. It is best known for the accuracy, breadth and convenience of its data, addressing all types of information needs – from homework help to health questions to business profiles – in a variety of formats. For more information, visit www.cengage.com or www.gale.com.

In this newly created role, Abram is responsible for leading efforts to strengthen Gale’s position as an experience-based products/solutions partner.  He will focus on increasing outreach, advocacy work, and our customers’ awareness of Gale as a library partner.  He will also be responsible for identifying emerging technologies and techniques that can be incorporated into Gale’s products to enhance the user’s experience and expand the role of our library partners.

Abram comes to Gale from SirsiDynix, where he was vice president of innovation and chief strategist of the SirsiDynix Institute.  Abram’s experience in the publishing environment also includes positions at Micromedia ProQuest, Carswell/Thomson Professional Publishing and  Thomson Electronic Publishing.

 “We are happy to have Stephen Abram joining our team,” said Sommers.  “Stephen is a highly experienced library and information industry leader, known for his strategic leadership and innovative style.  As we transition Gale into a resource for life and learning, we look forward to Stephen’s insights and help in translating market needs and in educating the market on the transformational attributes of Gale’s new genre of products.”

 For more information, please contact Linda Busse at linda.busse@cengage.com.

 About Cengage Learning and Gale
Cengage Learning delivers highly customized learning solutions for colleges, universities, professors, students, libraries, government agencies, corporations and professionals around the world. Gale, part of Cengage Learning, serves the world’s information and education needs through its vast and dynamic content pools, which are used by students and consumers in their libraries, schools and on the Internet. It is best known for the accuracy, breadth and convenience of its data, addressing all types of information needs – from homework help to health questions to business profiles – in a variety of formats.  For more information, visit www.cengage.com or www.gale.com

###

Portico preserves scholarly literature published in electronic form and ensures that these materials remain accessible to future scholars, researchers and students. To date, more than 10,000 eJournal titles and 28,000 eBooks have been committed to the Portico archive.  This agreement with Gale brings the first set of digitized historical collections including newspapers, legislative documents, pamphlets and more into the service.

“Ensuring long-term preservation and permanent access to the wide range of digital information used by scholars and students around the world is vital,” said Eileen Fenton, Portico’s managing director. “This includes not only eJournals and eBooks, but the vast digitized historical collections that Gale and others have worked with the world’s libraries to create and make available. We are delighted that Gale has taken a lead role in addressing this need and that they have chosen to work with Portico.”

The list of Gale Digital Collections preserved in the Portico archive will include:

• Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO) and ECCO Part II, New Editions
• The Making of Modern Law: Legal Treatises
• The Making of Modern Law: Trials
• The Making of Modern Law: Supreme Court Records and Briefs
• Making of the Modern World: Goldsmiths’-Kress Library of Economic Literature
• Sabin Americana
• 19th Century British Library Newspapers
• 17th and 18th Century Burney Collection Newspapers
• 19th Century U.S. Newspapers

Portico will make the content available to Portico-supporting libraries and their users under specific defined circumstances called ‘trigger events,’ including for extended service interruptions or if the content is no longer available through the Gale system or from other sources.  There is no charge from Gale for this service, but an institution must be a participant in Portico. Current fees for participation in Portico are outlined at http://www.portico.org/libraries/library_participation.html.  Gale Digital Collection customers will still have the option of getting the archive in electronic format directly from Gale at no cost.

For more information, please contact Linda Busse at linda.busse@cengage.com or Heidi McGregor at heidi.mcgregor@ithaka.org.

About Cengage Learning and Gale

Cengage Learning delivers highly customized learning solutions for colleges, universities, professors, students, libraries, government agencies, corporations and professionals around the world. Gale, part of Cengage Learning, serves the world’s information and education needs through its vast and dynamic content pools, which are used by students and consumers in their libraries, schools and on the Internet. It is best known for the accuracy, breadth and convenience of its data, addressing all types of information needs – from homework help to health questions to business profiles – in a variety of formats.  For more information, visit www.cengage.com or www.gale.com.

About Portico

Portico, a not-for-profit archive, preserves scholarly literature published in electronic form and ensures that these materials remain accessible to future scholars, researchers, and students. Nearly 40,000 e-journal titles and e-books have been promised to the Portico archive which is supported by more than 600 libraries worldwide and 84 publishers representing over 2000 scholarly societies and associations. Portico is part of ITHAKA, a not-for-profit organization helping the academic community use digital technologies to preserve the scholarly record and to advance scholarship and teaching in sustainable ways. For more information, visit
www. portico.org and www.ithaka.org.

“The demand for accurate health information is greater than ever,” said Frank Menchaca, executive vice president, publishing, Gale.  “We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with Rosen Publishing to expand access to vetted, expert information.

“Rosen’s Teen Health and Wellness is an award-winning resource that meets the unique information needs of young information-seekers,” said Menchaca.  “With a mission of providing ‘real answers,’ this resource delivers relevant health information that’s tailored to teens.”

Teen Health & Wellness provides students with comprehensive curricular support and self-help tools on topics including diseases, drugs, alcohol, nutrition, fitness, mental health, diversity, family life and more. Developed for teens, with their unique concerns and perspectives in mind, Teen Health & Wellness draws on Rosen’s award-winning series, including Coping, Need to Know and others. Thoroughly updated and revised for online use, all content is reviewed by leading professionals in medicine, mental health, nutrition, guidance and career counseling.

The agreement also allows Rosen to distribute Gale’s much-heralded Health & Wellness Resource Center.

“We’re excited to expand our e-Content offerings with such a renowned and established resource,” said Roger Rosen, president, Rosen Publishing. “We can now offer a balanced and comprehensive set of solutions to customers seeking health information,” said Rosen.  “This partnership allows greater reach of expert health information to library users across the country.”

Gale’s Health & Wellness Resource Center is a rich, comprehensive resource that offers 24/7 access to thousands of full-text medical journals, magazines, newspapers, reference works, multimedia and much more. With easy-to-find answers via an intuitive and customizable interface, Health & Wellness Resource Center is the first-stop resource for consumers of all ages and skill sets.

Customers may purchase these resources from Gale or Rosen.

For more information about the agreement, contact Linda Busse at linda.busse@cengage.com or Miriam Gilbert at miriamg@rosenpub.com.

About Cengage Learning and Gale
Cengage Learning delivers highly customized learning solutions for colleges, universities, professors, students, libraries, government agencies, corporations and professionals around the world. Gale, part of Cengage Learning, serves the world’s information and education needs through its vast and dynamic content pools, which are used by students and consumers in their libraries, schools and on the Internet. It is best known for the accuracy, breadth and convenience of its data, addressing all types of information needs – from homework help to health questions to business profiles – in a variety of formats.  Gale is based in Farmington Hills, Michigan.  For more information, visit www.cengage.com or www.gale.com.

About Rosen Publishing
Founded in 1950, Rosen Publishing has a long history of providing high-quality nonfiction books for children and young adults. Recognizing an urgent need for self-help material written specifically for young adults, Rosen released its flagship book on venereal disease in 1958, the first of its kind for teens. Rosen Publishing continues to enjoy a strong reputation for its sensitive treatment of difficult subjects; accurate, age-appropriate information; and reassuring tone. Rosen Publishing Online, the newest division of Rosen Publishing, continues the legacy of publishing trusted and award-winning content with database and digital offerings. To address the information needs of today’s students and the school and public library communities, Rosen Publishing Online launched Teen Health & Wellness: Real Life, Real Answers, in January 2007.  For more information, visit www.rosenpublishing.com.

Patrick C. Sommers, President, Gale, said: “The demand for books and resources in an electronic format continues to grow, and we are pleased to be in a position to meet that demand. This partnership means we can expand distribution, while allowing academic and public libraries to order, revise and renew their subscriptions, using Baker & Taylor’s leading library collection management services.”

GVRL offers nearly 3,000 reference sources from some 50 authoritative publishers on a stable, easy-to-use platform. Libraries have the flexibility to buy one e-Book or multiple e-Books and to search across a single e-Book or an entire e-Book collection. The collection grows weekly and covers a wide variety of topics and subjects — ranging from current events to classics and from arts and humanities to small business management.

Literature Criticism Online brings together 10 of the most acclaimed literary series representing a range of modern and historical views on authors and their works across regions, eras and genres. Gale Directory Library is an online collection of crosssearchable, authoritative directories of companies, publishers, associations and more.

Public and academic libraries can purchase GVRL products from Baker & Taylor’s unique and comprehensive Title Source TM 3 ordering system. Academic and public library customers may also continue to purchase GVRL products from their Gale representative. The new partnership simply expands customers’ options for ordering and allows customers to take advantage of the numerous services Baker & Taylor provides.

Attention customers: Please note that in conjunction with this launch Title Source TM 3 will be down for maintenance this morning from 6:15 a.m. (EDT) to 8:30 a.m. (EDT).

About Baker & Taylor
Baker & Taylor, Inc. (www.baker-taylor.com) is a global information and entertainment services company that offers print and digital books and entertainment products along with value-added services to libraries, educational institutions and retailers. Based in Charlotte, N.C., the company has been in existence for more than 180 years, developing long-term relationships with major suppliers, including book publishers, movie studios
and music labels. Baker & Taylor maintains one of the largest combined in-stock book, video and music inventories in the United States, and services the broadest customer base in the industry. Baker & Taylor is majority owned by Castle Harlan Partners IV, L.P., an institutional private equity fund managed by Castle Harlan Inc., a leading private equity investment firm.

About Cengage Learning and Gale
Cengage Learning delivers highly customized learning solutions for colleges, universities, professors, students, libraries, government agencies, corporations and professionals around the world. Gale, part of Cengage Learning, serves the world’s information and education needs through its vast and dynamic content pools, which are used by students and consumers in their libraries, schools and on the Internet. It is best known for the accuracy, breadth and convenience of its data, addressing all types of information needs – from homework help to health questions to business profiles – in a variety of formats. Gale is based in Farmington Hills, Michigan. For more information, go to www.gale.cengage.com.

Stephens, the newest guest columnist for www.gale.com, will be joining fellow librarians to provide critical commentary.  John R.M. Lawrence shares his views on public and academic reference resources and Péter Jacsó, reviews online and CD-ROM products.

Stephens has been a librarian at Buckhorn High School in New Market, Alabama since January 2003. A graduate of Dartmouth College, she has a master's degree in English literature and attended library school as a Graduate Council Fellow at the University of Alabama. She has also worked as a library systems integration consultant and technology trainer. Currently, she is a doctoral candidate in Information at the University of North Texas, where her research interests include intellectual freedom in schools, the history and evolution of school libraries and information equity and digital inclusion.

A National Board Certified library media specialist, Stephens was named a 21st Century Fellow by the Alabama Best Practices Center and recognized as an Emerging Leader by the American Library Association (ALA). An active member of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), Stephens sits on the Blog Editorial Board for that organization and on the AASL Web 2.0 Task Force. 

For more information, please contact Linda Busse at linda.busse@cengage.com.

About Cengage Learning and Gale
Cengage Learning delivers highly customized learning solutions for colleges, universities, professors, students, libraries, government agencies, corporations and professionals around the world. Gale, part of Cengage Learning, serves the world's information and education needs through its vast and dynamic content pools, which are used by students and consumers in their libraries, schools and on the Internet. It is best known for the accuracy, breadth and convenience of its data, addressing all types of information needs – from homework help to health questions to business profiles – in a variety of formats.  For more information, visit www.cengage.com or www.gale.com.

“The Senate version of the state budget calls for slashing library funding to $7.5 million even though state law calls for it to be funded at approximately $15.4 million,” explained Gretchen Couraud, executive director, Michigan Library Association.  “If these budget cuts are enacted, the entire statewide resource sharing and interlibrary loan system could collapse, eliminating the savings realized through group purchasing.  This will put greater pressure on local communities to fund resources, or citizens will lose this information altogether.  We are proud to have Gale joining us in this fight to keep these important services alive and invite librarians and library supporters across the state to take action.”

“With our headquarters located in Michigan, we see first-hand how our state is experiencing some of the highest unemployment in the nation,” said John Barnes, Gale’s executive vice president of strategic marketing and business development.  “This is not the time to cut vital library services as more Michigan residents than ever are relying on the resources of their libraries for job-searching, skills development and life resources.

“Libraries across the state report increases in library use, a testament to how our libraries are a vital part of our state’s transitions to a knowledge-based economy dependent on technology and access to information,” continued Barnes.  “We urge the legislature to protect library funding and continue to provide free access to valuable resources.”

Gale will provide bus service for more than 250 people from two Michigan locations: its Farmington Hills headquarters and Otsego County Library in Gaylord.  Those interested in using the free bus service should register in advance at www.gale.com/michlibraries.

“Gale opposes the proposed budget cuts that threaten essential library resources, and we encourage librarians and library advocates alike to take advantage of the free Gale bus service and join us in Lansing for the September 10th rally,” said Barnes.

The Library of Michigan brings libraries together in many ways with statewide group purchasing and resource sharing, saving millions of dollars and benefiting all Michigan residents.  Additionally, the Library of Michigan is responsible for the Michigan Electronic Library (MeL.org), which provides online resources to students, faculty, small businesses, job seekers and all other Michigan residents.  Included in the free services are iMeL Tests and Tutorials providing online GED, police, fire and nursing certification tests and more.  MeLCat, a statewide interlibrary loan system, allows residents free access to a wealth of resources from their homes, offices or libraries at tremendous cost savings.  MeLCat also enables libraries to share books, CDs, DVDs and more from other communities.  

More information about the proposed cuts and their impact is available at www.milibrariesforthefuture.com/.

For more information, please contact Linda Busse at linda.busse@cengage.com.

About Cengage Learning and Gale
Cengage Learning delivers highly customized learning solutions for colleges, universities, professors, students, libraries, government agencies, corporations and professionals around the world. Gale, part of Cengage Learning, serves the world's information and education needs through its vast and dynamic content pools, which are used by students and consumers in their libraries, schools and on the Internet. It is best known for the accuracy, breadth and convenience of its data, addressing all types of information needs – from homework help to health questions to business profiles – in a variety of formats.  For more information, visit www.cengage.com or www.gale.com.

The courses developed for
Gale customers will use the research-driven powerspeaK¹² language
learning methodology which includes a variety of multi-sensory activities to
take full advantage of the brain’s ability to acquire language. Designed
specifically for use by the diverse audience of library patrons, the courses
will include a combination of scored online activities, lessons and games.

Course activities will be bound
together with an adventure story containing rich graphics, audio, video, music
and an intuitive way to track progress. Learners will also be challenged to
practice speaking and writing in a variety of interactive modules designed to
simulate real conversations with native speakers.

Initial course offerings are
scheduled to be available later this year.

“We’re thrilled to partner
with Gale to distribute our language-learning courses to people across the
world,” said Ron Packard, founder and chief executive officer of K12 Inc.
“Language is one of the last barriers in today’s global economy and K¹²
is determined to help make learning a new language easier than ever before. Our
partnership with Gale will give more people the opportunity to learn a new
language using an exciting Web-based program that combines innovative
methodology and powerful technology.”

“A highly
effective online language-learning program has long been in demand among
libraries,” said Jim Draper, vice president and publisher at Gale. “We are
delighted to partner with powerspeaK¹², an innovative leader with a
global reputation for meeting the needs of language-learners. The new program
will provide users the best and most engaging language-learning experience
available.”

About
Cengage Learning and Gale
Cengage Learning delivers highly customized learning solutions for colleges,
universities, professors, students, libraries, government agencies,
corporations and professionals around the world. Gale, part of Cengage Learning,
serves the world's information and education needs through its vast and dynamic
content pools, which are used by students and consumers in their libraries,
schools and on the Internet. It is best known for the accuracy, breadth and convenience
of its data, addressing all types of information needs – from homework help to
health questions to business profiles – in a variety of formats.  For more
information, visit www.cengage.com or www.gale.com.

 About K12 Inc.
K12 Inc. (NYSE:  LRN), a technology-based education company,
is the nation’s leading provider of proprietary curriculum and online education
programs to students in kindergarten through high school.  K¹²
provides its curriculum and academic services to online schools, traditional
classrooms, blended school programs, and directly to families. K¹² has delivered over one
million semester courses to students worldwide. 
Currently, more than 50,000
students in 21 states are enrolled in online public schools that use the K¹²
program.  K12 Inc. also operates the K¹² International
Academy, an accredited, diploma-granting online private school serving students
in over 35 countries.

K12 Inc. is
accredited through the Commission on International and Trans-Regional
Accreditation (CITA). It is the largest national K-12 online school
provider to be recognized by CITA.

K¹²’s mission is to provide any child the curriculum and tools
to maximize success in life, regardless of geographic, financial, or
demographic circumstances.  More information can be found at www.K12.com.

###

 © 2009 K12 Inc. K¹²
is a registered
trademark, and the K¹² logo, powerspeaK¹², Unleash the xPotential
and xPotential are trademarks of K12 Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.

Rough Guides publishes guidebooks and online content for hundreds of destinations worldwide. Known for its extensive coverage of travel destinations through content and photos, Rough Guides help independent-minded travelers plan entire trips with a broad range of useful information on topics such as transportation, history, cultural attractions, eating, shopping, accommodations and more.

Gale Virtual Reference Library offers thousands of electronic reference books from dozens of publishers allowing libraries to provide the convenience of an online search engine with the accuracy and authority of Gale’s 50-year publishing legacy.  With Gale Virtual Reference Library, libraries can fill their virtual shelves with electronic reference sources covering a wide variety of topics and subjects – ranging from current events to classics and from arts and humanities to small business – and users can enjoy unlimited access anytime of day from anywhere with an Internet connection.

“By adding Rough Guides to Gale Virtual Reference Library we are expanding our subject offerings.  Users will now be able to access detailed travel-related content while taking advantage of cross-searchability, connecting popular updated information with historical reference,” said Jay Flynn, Gale’s vice president and publisher for social science and K-12.

“Rough Guides is really thrilled to be partnering with the Gale Virtual Reference Library on the inclusion of digital editions of our travel guides,” said Tom Hall, director of digital licensing.  “This licensing agreement will give the Rough Guides list increased exposure to anyone who is seeking up-to-the minute, thoroughly researched travel information in our brand’s signature accessible style.”

For more information, please contact Linda Busse at linda.busse@cengage.com or Judi Powers at judi.powers@dk.com.

About Cengage Learning and Gale
Cengage Learning delivers highly customized learning solutions for colleges, universities, professors, students, libraries, government agencies, corporations and professionals around the world. Gale, part of Cengage Learning, serves the world's information and education needs through its vast and dynamic content pools, which are used by students and consumers in their libraries, schools and on the Internet. It is best known for the accuracy, breadth and convenience of its data, addressing all types of information needs – from homework help to health questions to business profiles – in a variety of formats.  For more information, visit www.cengage.com or www.gale.com.

About Rough Guides
Rough Guides, a division of Penguin Group, publishes guidebooks for independent-minded travelers to more than 200 destinations around the globe, from Alaska to Zanzibar. The guidebooks are designed for independent travelers on a range of budgets seeking the best cultural and historical coverage but who are just as interested in finding-out-of-the-way beaches and clubs. Each Rough Guide combines opinionated reviews with the most up-to-date information on accommodations, restaurants, sights, and activities. The Rough Guides list is distributed internationally and has offices in London, New York City and Delhi.