Launch of National Geographic Virtual Library Product Suite Announced

Farmington Hills, Mich., June 20, 2012 — Gale, part of Cengage Learning and a leading publisher of research and reference resources for libraries, schools and businesses, and the National Geographic Society, one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations, today announced an extended agreement to create additional library products as part of a new product suite, National Geographic Virtual Library.

Earlier this year, Gale announced the National Geographic Magazine Archive, 1888-1994, for libraries, which included all issues of the magazine for its first 107 years, fully searchable through an intuitive interface. The partnership has now been extended to provide all National Geographic magazine issues from 1995 onwards, as well as access to a new virtual reference collection of National Geographic books, maps, videos, images and National Geographic Traveler magazine (2010-current).

Some of the notable National Geographic resources made available as part of the agreement include titles such as Polar Obsession, by Paul Nicklen, and Sizing Up the Universe: The Cosmos in Perspective, by J. Richard Gott; videos exploring topics such as alternative energy and the lifestyle of beluga whales; and destination guides and expedition maps.

This is the first time all these resources have been offered to libraries together in digital and searchable form. The extension of the virtual library provides the high quality that librarians expect from the National Geographic brand. These new resources will be created on the same platform as the National Geographic Magazine Archive, 1888-1994, and will work seamlessly together.

“Though some of these materials may exist in libraries in some form, by making them all available digitally and making them fully searchable, we are enabling researchers and students to make connections previously not possible with the hard-copy materials,” said Frank Menchaca, executive vice president, Gale. “We are bringing the National Geographic Society to libraries, and we look forward to growing our relationship with this important organization and showcasing these amazing resources to a worldwide audience.”

The online magazine archive and collection will have benefits for library users at all levels, introducing students to primary-source materials that are relevant and engaging, and giving teachers and professors exciting resources that can be incorporated into syllabi and reading lists. They will support learning and research in a wide range of subject areas, such as:
• Peoples and Cultures
• Environment
• Geography
• Science and Technology
• Animals
• Photography and Journalism

“National Geographic is excited to offer this extensive selection of our books, magazines, videos and images for the first time in one database to libraries exclusively. The Gale platform will provide new avenues for discovering National Geographic-published content for research and learning,” said Declan Moore, president of National Geographic Publishing and Digital Media.

These new resources will be available to customers starting in fall 2012.

Learn more about these and other Gale products at the American Library Association annual meeting in Anaheim, Calif., June 22-25. On the exhibit floor, the Gale booth (#1400) will feature interactive touch screens to enable visitors to explore National Geographic treasures, and National Geographic author-photographer Paul Nicklen will be on site for a book signing on Sunday, June 24.

For more information on the National Geographic Virtual Library, or to request a trial of any of the products, please visit http://gdc.gale.com/ or contact Kristina Massari at kristina.massari@cengage.com.

About Cengage Learning and Gale
Cengage Learning is a leading provider of innovative teaching, learning and research solutions for the academic, professional and library markets worldwide. 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.cengage.com.

About the National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. National Geographic reflects the world through its magazines, television programs, films, music and radio, books, DVDs, maps, exhibitions, live events, school publishing programs, interactive media and merchandise. National Geographic magazine, the Society’s official journal, published in English and 33 local-language editions, is read by more than 60 million people each month. The National Geographic Channel reaches more than 435 million households in 37 languages in 173 countries. National Geographic Digital Media receives more than 19 million visitors a month. National Geographic has funded more than 10,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geography literacy. www.nationalgeographic.com.

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Announces Launch of ed2go for Public Libraries

Farmington Hills, Mich., June 19, 2012 — Gale, part of Cengage Learning and a leading publisher of research and reference resources for libraries, schools and businesses, today announced a new program, ed2go for public libraries, that brings turnkey online training and education solutions to the public library market. ed2go, also part of Cengage Learning, provides online training courses for the adult education, career, and corporate training markets through partnerships with colleges, universities, community-based organizations and now through public libraries.

“The mission of many public libraries is to inspire lifelong learning among patrons,” said Gerry Sawchuk, publisher, public library solutions for Gale. “With ed2go courses designed specifically for this diverse audience, we are equipping public libraries with the tools to do just that.”

The ed2go for public libraries program, developed as a result of Cengage Learning’s unique position within the library, classroom and adult learning markets, will offer patrons access to hundreds of instructor-led online courses covering everything from health and wellness to digital photography, computer programming, GED test preparation and much more. ed2go courses are developed by expert instructors, many currently working at universities around the country, and use Cengage Learning’s proven pedagogy to ensure classes are engaging and informative. Each individual course is offered online for six weeks and features 12 lessons with online discussions, homework, quizzes and a final exam. Though these are not college equivalent courses, certificate programs are available for careers in the medical field, project management and computer networking.

ed2go for public libraries features a subscription model designed specifically for libraries – librarians purchase access to a catalog of ed2go courses which are then offered free to patrons, who can select specific courses to enroll in. Libraries in turn get robust product administration and usage reporting capabilities enabling the easy tracking of successful patron outcomes.

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System recently piloted the ed2go program as part of its eCampus initiative to address lifelong learning in its community and deliver workforce development resources, programs and services. The results have been highly successful.
• There have been 226 ed2go course registrations since September 2011, and in January 2012 usage soared 300% from the month prior.
• Average of 18 course registrations per month from September – December 2011, with that number jumping to 38 from January – April 2012.
• Customers keep coming back – 46 people have registered for 2 or more courses.

“Our goal was to find online resources that could serve a wide community base with varied learning needs. Through our strategic partnerships with organizations like Cengage Learning, we’ve been able to offer exciting and user-friendly digital tools, like ed2go, to our community,” said Jurée Hall, eCampus Project Coordinator, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System. “The positive feedback and growth in enrollments shows we’re on the right track.”

For more information on ed2go for public libraries or to request a trial, please visit www.gale.cengage.com/ed2go or contact Kristina Massari at kristina.massari@cengage.com. You can also learn more about this innovative program and Atlanta-Fulton’s success at the Gale booth (#1400) on the exhibit floor of the American Library Association annual meeting in Anaheim, California June 22-25.

About Cengage Learning and Gale
Cengage Learning is a leading provider of innovative teaching, learning and research solutions for the academic, professional and library markets worldwide. 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.cengage.com.

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