Press Release Fun: We Been Bought!

While I was wrangling with the finer intricacies of moving all my worldly goods from one location to another, somebody went and bought this here hosting site for my blog.  SLJ has been purchased!  You may read SLJ editor Brian Kenney’s soothing, comforting words on the subject here.  Kinda take the edge off, don’t they?  And as for the official press release, here it is.  Welcome, new ant overlords!*

Media Source Acquires School Library Journal and Library Journal

Junior Library Guild and Horn Book Parent Company Expands Offerings to School and Public Library Markets

March 1, 2010

For Immediate Release

Ohio-based Media Source Inc. announces today that it has acquired Library Journal and School Library Journal from Reed Business Information-US.  The acquisition includes all print and Web products, services, supplements, and newsletters, including Library Hotline. With this purchase, Media Source, best known for its ownership of Junior Library Guild and The Horn Book, Inc., adds substantially to its product offerings in the library market.

“Library Journal and School Library Journal are valuable magazines that deserve a corporate home focused on libraries,” said Randall Asmo, CEO of Media Source. “We respect the history and contribution of LJ and SLJ.  Our goal is to build upon those strengths to provide a vital and comprehensive service to the librarian community.” 

The Editorial and Advertising Sales groups of the acquired publications will continue operations in New York City. Asmo continues, “Editor-in-Chief Brian Kenney and Publisher Ron Shank are important to the success of SLJ and LJ, and they will remain in their current roles. We believe that the combined businesses of SLJ, LJ, Junior Library Guild, and The Horn Book will create a myriad of new opportunities in the marketplace. At the same time, our plan is to have each business unit continue to operate with complete editorial independence.”

About Media Source Inc.:  Media Source, with headquarters just outside Columbus, Ohio, is the parent company of Junior Library Guild (JLG) and The Horn Book, Inc. JLG is a review and collection development service that provides new release children’s and young adult books to more than 17,000 school and public libraries. The Horn Book, Inc. reviews children’s and young adult books in two print publications, The Horn Book Magazine and The Horn Book Guide.

About School Library Journal (SLJ): Each monthly issue of SLJ includes reviews of children’s and young adult books, audio, and multimedia products, as well as news, features, and columns that deliver the perspective, resources, and leadership tools necessary for its readers to become indispensable players in their schools and libraries.  More than 100,000 librarians who work with students in public and school libraries read School Library Journal.

About Library Journal (LJ): Founded in 1876, Library Journal is the oldest and most respected publication covering the library field. Over 100,000 library directors, administrators, and staff in public, academic, and special libraries read LJ. In its twenty annual issues, LJ reviews nearly 7000 books and provides coverage of technology, management, policy, and other professional concerns.

About Reed Business Information-US:  Reed Business Information-US (www.reedbusiness.com/us) is a leading business-to-business information provider of publications and web sites, as well as custom publishing, directories and research. Reed Business Information-US is part of Reed Elsevier (NYSE: RUK and ENL), a world leading provider of professional information and workflow solutions in the Science, Medical, Legal, Risk Management and Business sectors.

Reed Business Information-US and Reed Elsevier were represented by The Jordan, Edmiston Group, Inc., a New York City-based investment bank that specializes in the media and information industries.

Media Contact:

Andrew Thorne, VP Marketing, Media Source Inc.

athorne@mediasourceinc.net

614.873.7956

www.mediasourceinc.net

http://www.juniorlibraryguild.com

http://www.hbook.com

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/

http://www.libraryjournal.com/

http://www.libraryhotline.com *A Simpsons reference for those in the know.

Filed under: Press Release Fun