Facts On File Reacquires Facts On File News Services

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Debra Lau-Whelan -- School Library Journal, 8/15/2007

Remember when Facts On File sold its Facts On File News Services to WRC Media in 1996? Well, Facts On File has announced plans to reacquire the company from the Reader’s Digest Association, which merged with WRC Media in March 2007.

Don’t worry, it’s not as confusing as it sounds. Just think of a couple who gets divorced and then later remarries.

All you need to know is that Facts On File, a major provider of print and electronic reference materials for your schools and libraries, is offering a news service once again.

“We are delighted that Facts On File News Services will be with us again, and it gives me great pleasure to welcome it back into the fold,” says Mark McDonnell, president of Facts On File’s parent company, Infobase Publishing. “Bringing the two Facts On File organizations together again will eliminate confusion in the industry and create a larger, more focused company.” Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Reader’s Digest Association, however, will retain Facts for Learning, a curriculum-based reference database built on digital content from the Weekly Reader magazines, Gareth Stevens books, and other reference sources.

“This is a ‘win-win’ for both organizations,” says Michael Geltzeiler, president of the Reader’s Digest School & Educational Services Division.

In May, Infobase acquired the Films Media Group (FMG) from PRIMEDIA. Films Media Group, a provider of educational video and multimedia programs for schools, colleges, libraries, and the medical community, which offers more than 12,000 titles on subjects ranging from art and computer science to social studies and psychology. They are available in VHS, DVD, and digital formats.

McDonnell says the acquisitions of FMG and Facts On File News Services will not only extend the company’s offerings to schools and libraries, but also allow it to provide an enormous amount of video content and historical and current news content, which will be integrated into Facts On File's existing online reference products.

“We have already begun the process of combining text, video, images, flash animations, audio, and more into our online databases, and I can’t help but get excited about how these acquisitions will help our products stack up against the competition,” says McDonnell, adding that schools and libraries are always looking for better, more integrated learning tools.