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New to the directory library are acclaimed titles such as the Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media, Consultants & Consulting Organizations Directory and Encyclopedia of Governmental Advisory Organizations. These titles will be joined by numerous additional references from Gale and its publishing partners over the coming months.

"Our goal from the beginning with Gale Directory Library was to deliver the widest array of up-to-date directory data in the most accessible way possible," said Business Publisher David Forman. "By bringing these titles off the shelf and into a digital format, Gale Directory Library makes this information more accessible to librarians and their patrons."

Launched in 2007, Gale Directory Library quickly established itself by offering such top titles as Ward's Business Directory of U.S. Private and Public Companies and the Encyclopedia of Associations in convenient online formats.

For insight into how a certain industry fared within a specific state, for example, a user could "simply search Ward's for the companies in that industry and state, rank them by sales and export the list," Forman said. "Then use Excel to chart the revenue generated by the top 100 companies in that industry over a period of time and compare it to another state or another industry."

Gale Directory Library tailors itself to the needs of individual libraries. "We developed this directory using the input of librarians and their customers," noted Forman. That feedback resulted in such advanced functionality as a fully fielded data set, a robust data export feature, a common platform that allows users to cross-search entire holdings or drill into an individual directory title.

As part of Gale's industry-leading digital collection, Gale Directory Library features a user-focused platform that allows for quick searches of entities by name or keyword. From the basic or advanced search screens, users can broaden or narrow their searches to include the most current data, to specific years, or to an entire backfile.

Just as vital as the technology, noted Forman, is the directory's customizable format. "Libraries purchase just those directories they need," he said.

Directories now available on the platform include:

1) Ward's Business Directory of U.S. Private and Public Companies

2) Encyclopedia of Associations – National, International, and Regional, State and Local Editions

5) Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media

6) Encyclopedia of Governmental Advisory Organizations

7) Consultants and Consulting Organizations Directory

8) Publishers Directory

9) Directories in Print

10) Research Centers Directory

11) International Research Centers Directory

12) Government Research Directory

For more information on Gale Directory Library, contact David Forman at david.forman@cengage.com

About Cengage Learning and Gale

Cengage Learning, formerly Thomson Learning, delivers highly customized learning solutions for colleges, universities, professors, students, reference centers, 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 – books and eBooks, databases and microfilm. For more information visit: www.cengage.com or www.gale.com.