News Release: Thomson Gale and xrefer Form Strategic Partnership

["Ellen McCullough" <ellen.mccullough@xrefer.com>]

### Please excuse any cross-postings ###

Thomson Gale and xrefer Form Strategic Partnership 
xreferplus Service to be Offered with Gale Virtual Reference Library 

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., and Boston, Mass., June 22, 2004 -- Thomson Gale,
a part of The Thomson Corporation (NYSE:  TOC; TSX; TOC), and xrefer,
provider of online ready reference services to libraries worldwide,
announced today that they have entered into a strategic partnership for
distribution in the United States and Canada of the xreferplus service in
conjunction with Gale Virtual Reference Library.

Thomson Gale will distribute xreferplus as an added, ready-reference
component of Gale Virtual Reference Library into academic, public, school,
military and government libraries in the United States and Canada.  A
selection of Thomson Gale titles will also be made available to current
and future xreferplus customers worldwide, whether they subscribe directly
from xrefer or purchase xreferplus as part of the Gale Virtual Reference
Library.

The complete news release can be found at
http://www.xrefer.com/news/index.jsp?m=2

For more information contact:
At xrefer: Ellen McCullough at (617) 426-5710, or by e-mail at
ellen.mccullough@xrefer.com
At Thomson Gale: Kim Gabbert at (248) 699-8193, by e-mail at
Kimberly.gabbert@thomson.com
At Thomson Learning: Adam Gaber at (203) 539-8663 or e-mail
adam.gaber@thomson.com