NetLibrary/Gale Deal Announced

[Ann Okerson <ann.okerson@yale.edu>]

News Release

Contact
Gale 
Beth Dempsey
Manager, Corporate Communications(248) 
699-8554
beth.dempsey@galegroup.com		

For Immediate Release

GALE� LAUNCHES eBOOK PROGRAMAlliance with netLibrary 
will create electronic versions of reference classics

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI -- (September 30, 2002) Gale�, a leading research and
reference publisher for libraries and a business unit of The Thomson
Corporation (NYSE:TOC, TSX:TOC), announced today that it is launching an
eBook program.  Through an alliance with netLibrary, Gale's classic
reference works will be available in versions that library patrons can
search and read via the Internet.

"The Gale brand is not only about accurate, reliable content.  It's also
about easy access to that content," said Gale President Allen Paschal.  
"Considering the enhanced searching capabilities and round-the-clock
availability of eBooks, this format is a natural addition to our delivery
model."

netLibrary will host Gale eBooks, which will be available to any
institution with a netLibrary account. While an initial release of 30 to
50 Gale titles is expected this fall, the companies ultimately expect to
make hundreds of works available as eBooks.  The initial selection of
titles, coming from a variety of Gale's award-winning imprints, will serve
broad reference needs and include both single-volume works and
multi-volume sets.  Content will be identical to the print version.

"We are extremely pleased to now be able to offer libraries many of Gale's
respected reference works in the form of eBooks ," said Rich Rosy,
Corporate Vice President, netLibrary.  "We continually strive to provide
libraries with high quality eBook content, and Gale's works represent a
strong fit with our goals and objectives for serving the needs of all
types of library communities."

netLibrary's eBooks are noted for their ability to provide users with
access to library resources anywhere, anytime.  Full-text searches can be
conducted across hundreds of books or within a specific book to speed
research and reference projects. The books can be viewed online from a
library, office, home, or remote location using an Internet browser, or
can be downloaded to a laptop. eBooks are available for varying checkout
periods and are automatically checked back into the library collection
when the checkout period expires.

John Barnes, Gale's senior vice-president of business development, noted,
"We're genuinely pleased to be working with netLibrary and by extension,
OCLC, its parent.  Like Gale, they're committed to technological
innovation and have a passion for serving the library community."

Gale eBooks will be sold as individual units or in bundles with print
titles.  For more information visit the company on the Web at www.gale.com
or call a representative at 1- 800-877-4253 (GALE).

About Gale

Gale� (www.gale.com) is a world leader in e-reference publishing for
libraries, schools and businesses.  Best known for its accurate and
authoritative content as well as its intelligent organization of full-text
magazine and newspaper articles, the company creates and maintains more
than 600 databases that are published in electronic form, as well as in
print and microform.

The Gale family of publishing imprints includes such noted reference
brands as Macmillan Reference USA�, Charles Scribner's Sons�, Primary
Source Microfilm�, and Responsive Database Services.  Gale also serves the
K-12 market with it's U�X�L�, Greenhaven Press�, Lucent Books�, KidHaven
Press�, Blackbirch Press�, and Sleeping Bear Press imprints.  Thorndike
Press� and Wheeler Publishing� serve libraries' large print collections,
while the Taft Group�, specializes in reference materials for the
nonprofit sector.  Gale operating companies include distinguished German
reference publisher K.G. Saur� and the U.K.-based Graham & Whiteside�.

In addition to serving the school and library communities, Gale also
licenses its proprietary content for integration within Web-based
information services. Nearly 100 organizations - including Looksmart,
Borders, Dow Jones, WebMD, and Thomson Financial - presently enjoy
strategic business distribution partnerships with Gale.

Gale is based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, with additional offices
elsewhere in the U.S. and in the U.K., Australia, Germany, Switzerland and
Malaysia.

About Thomson

The Thomson Corporation (www.thomson.com), with 2001 revenues of $7.2
billion, is a global leader in providing integrated information solutions
to business and professional customers. Thomson provides value-added
information and technology to more than 20 million users in the fields of
law, tax, accounting, financial services, higher education, reference
information, corporate training and assessment, scientific research and
healthcare. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the New York and
Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE:TOC, TSX:TOC).

About netLibrary

Founded in August 1998, netLibrary is located in Boulder, Colorado. As the
world's premier provider of electronic books (eBooks), netLibrary helps
academic, public, corporate and special libraries create a richer, more
productive learning environment for their patrons. By combining the
time-honored traditions of the library system with electronic publishing,
netLibrary offers an easy-to-use information and retrieval system for
accessing the full text of reference, scholarly, and professional books.  
netLibrary is a division of OCLC Online Computer Library Center, a
nonprofit organization that provides computer-based cataloging, reference,
resource sharing and preservation service to libraries worldwide.

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