Definition: Thomson Gale

(Thomson Gale, a Thomson Learning business, Farmington Hills, MI). A leading information publishing company for libraries, schools and businesses. Thomson Gale was formed in 1998 as a merger of Gale Research, Information Access Company and Primary Source Media, three Thomson subsidiaries. Gale Research produced books and CD-ROMs for schools and libraries. Information Access published databases on several subjects including computers, and U.K.-based Primary Source Media published rare research materials such as the complete record of The Times of London since 1771. Other well-known publishing imprints of the business included Macmillan Reference, Charles Scribner's Sons and Primary Source Microfilm.

In mid-2007 Thomson Learning and all its imprints and subunits were acquired by two private equity firms in a multi-billion dollar deal. Shortly after, Thomson Learning changed its name to Cengage Learning.