Our MbLA vendor lunch

1. “Resources for Life and Learning”
Manitoba Library Association
Vision and Mission

3. • Focus on the user leads
to better products
• Empower users with tools
and information in
context
Gale’s 3.0 Vision: Let’s start with the User!
Gale’s
Strategy
3
Power to the User = Value to the Library
Better products lead to more usage
More usage leads to more value to the library

4. What We Are Learning about users?
• 27% of our users are under 18
• 59% are female
• 29% are college students
• 5% are professors and 6% are teachers
• On any given day, 35% of our users are there for
the first time
• 29% found our products via a library website
• 59% found what they were looking for on their
first search
• 72% trusted the Gale content more than what
they found on Google
• 81% still use Google
4

5. Gale Takes Action With Major Library Advocacy Initiatives
• Major initiative to improve web experience,
given number of users finding us “elsewhere”
• Designed more than 1,000 websites for
libraries including the Florida Electronic
Library
• Created more than 300 new widgets, driving
an average 400% increase in usage
• Access My Library use on the Web and the
iPhone app draws users to the Library
• Usage in the last 3 months is DOUBLE last
year!
5

6. Understanding Users From The Web Perspective
• Gale purchased and to better
understand and reach users on the Web
• Gale’s one of the top-ranked sites
worldwide
• Gale supports libraries by directing Web traffic back to libraries –
increasing awareness of library resources
6

7. Leveraging Gale’s Strategic Position as a Publisher
• Publish and aggregate content users need and will
use
• Gale creates content utilizing a network of
100,000+ authors
• We write content about content – giving users
overviews and applications for complex content in
context
• Create broad access for libraries by aggregating
everything else without embargo or exclusives
• Focus on content creation – not just tonnage
• More titles without embargos are better than just
more titles
• Avoid the ‘exclusives’ game: in the end, not
consistent with our strategy to partner with
libraries, as costs rise in the log run
7

8. Using Technology to Drive Value
Users reveal what they want:
• Strong trend away from large content
aggregations sitting behind a search box
• Easier, quicker access to information
• Eliminate authentication obstacles
• Web 2.0 tools they have grown
accustomed to using
• Content and Technology tied to
workflow
8

9. Gale’s New Look And Feel To Improve Usage
Search and Retrieve Model:
Much more focused on number of
results for a search, rather than the
quality of the results
Knowledge Portal Model:
Engages users by giving them
everything they need to learn
about a topic – from an
overview, to relevant articles, to
multimedia, to assets found in
their library.
• Users want easier access and Web 2.0 tools
9

10. Gale’s New Knowledge Portal Strategy
10

11. Gale’s Driving Principles Put Libraries First!
• The library world is full of vendors:
Gale strives to be a partner
• Our mutual goal is to ensure that
libraries remain vibrant, successful
centers of their communities.
• Gale will bring more value to
libraries through deep
knowledge of their clients
• Gale strives to be the “glue”
that brings disparate
information sources together
and creates meaning by
“sticking it together”.
11

13.  We held our electronic prices flat for all customers in 2009,
saving libraries more than $10,000,000.
 Guess what, we’re doing it again this year.
 We saved 8 states more than $3,000,000 by having them
switch to Gale resources from EBSCO.
 We are now moving all customers to unlimited usage for no
additional charge.
 We reduced our list prices on a number of products.
is advocating for libraries

14.  Gale is now exploring a new business model with
Wyoming – usage-based pricing for resources.
 Gale is now authenticating by geolocation in a
number of states – users can access resources
without putting in a barcode or password.
 Gale increased its marketing budget in the current
year, but reallocated the money to help libraries
market to their users.
is advocating for libraries.

15.  We don’t only do busses at ALA… we also
stand behind our customers when their voices
need to be heard.
is advocating for libraries.

17. is going to help you understand your users.
• Power to the User; Value to the Library.
 Understanding users leads to better products.
 Better products lead to more usage.
 More usage leads to more value per dollar to the
library.

18. Content
73, 1.1
Look and Feel
68, 0.4
Navigation
67, 0.9
Search
67, 2.8
Site Performance
74, 0.4
62
72
0.2 1.2 2.2
SCORE
IMPACT
Gale-Cengage Browse Survey
Priority Map
October 01, 2009 - October 31, 2009
STATUS QUO REQUIRED MAINTAIN OR IMPROVE
MONITOR TOP PRIORITY
Key:
Position of each bubble indicates its score and impact
Size of each bubble also indicates the relative size of impact
HighLow
High
Low

20. v
is creating library awareness.
 Gale is proud to introduce the new iPhone
App.
 Gale is directing web traffic to your resources.

21. • Top-ten reference site
• Search engine discoverability for
libraries and their resources
• Article excerpts from library
products (e.g. GVRL)
• Full-text articles courtesy of your
library

22. • Top-ten reference site
• Search engine discoverability for
libraries and their resources
• Article excerpts from library
products (e.g. GVRL)
• Full-text articles courtesy of your
library
Read the rest of this article courtesy of your local library
15%

25. is helping you market to your users.
 Gale has created more than 1,000 websites for
libraries…
Including…www.flelibrary.org

27. is going to double your usage.
 With more than 300 widgets, and counting…
we are going to unlock your products to users.

29. Has confirmed your friend request.
Gale wants to be your friend, and partner.
Not just another vendor.

30. Gale Think Product Portfolio
Summer 2010
*** Please view in “Slide Show” mode ***

31. Evolution of Gale K-12 Products
The New Portfolio
 Products included in the new Gale Think Portfolio:
– Gale Think Biography
– Gale Think History U.S.
– Gale Think History World
– Gale Think Opposing Viewpoints
– Gale Think Science
– Gale Think Student Edition
– Gale Think Student Canadian Edition

33. Introduction
A New Paradigm
 Gale has developed a new portfolio of products to replace
the resource center databases
 The portfolio is being branded under the “Think” umbrella
product name
 The Gale Think product line is the culmination of extensive
internal and external research including the K-12 Front-
End Customer Strategy (FECS) project as well as focus
groups, user studies and usability testing with both
customers and learners across the K-12 market

34. What We Heard…
I want simplicity, direct
curriculum connections,
and I want to integrate
content easily into my
workflow with tools
Media Specialists
Teachers
Students
I want deep
authoritative content
for all students and
subjects
I want it
fast, easy,
and
definitely
cool…

35. Introduction
A New Paradigm
 The Internet changed the way learners do
“research”
 The Gale Think products are consistent with the
way learners now seek and discover information,
engage with content and complete assignments in
all learning environments
 Gale continues to evolve in order to meet the
needs of our customers serving the 21st Century
learner

36. Evolution of Gale
20101954
Print
Digital
Collections
Online Databases
(Resource Centers)
Portal Products
(Gale Think*)
*Wireframe mock-up may not reflect the exact look & feel of the final product
GALE’s innovative Gale Think platform
connects 21st Century learners with
dynamic content

37. •Learner influenced
product design
• Content influenced
product design
•Over 1,500 portal pages
(content in context)
•One general product
(Think Student Edition)
• Multiple levels (Gold,
Silver, Bronze)
•Library + Classroom• Library
•Classroom Solutions +
Research & Discovery
• Research & Discovery
•Single product platform• Numerous product
platforms
•One brand identity• Various brand
identities
•Now• Then
Evolution: Product Overview

38. •Now• Then
Evolution: Logo & Brand Identity

39. •Related Portals
(promoting discovery)
•Interactive Google Maps• Static map images
•Image galleries• Image links and single
image views
•Multiple spotlight
topics/articles
• Single or no spotlight
topic/article
•Updated featured portals
by category
• Static homepage pick
lists
•Fact Boxes
•New engaging and
learner-friendly interface
• Outdated and basic
user interface
•Search Assist and “Did
You Mean?”
•Now• Then
Evolution: Features & Functionality

40. Then Now*
Evolution: Interface
*Wireframe may not reflect the exact look & feel of the final product

41. MOCK-UP
SAMPLE:
Home Page*
Screenshots: Gale Think Opposing Viewpoints
*Mock-up may not reflect the exact look & feel of the final product

42. MOCK-UP
SAMPLE:
Portal Page*
Screenshots: Gale Think Opposing Viewpoints
*Mock-up may not reflect the exact look & feel of the final product

43. •Content types merged
on single portals
• Content types
separated by clicks &
pages
•Precise delivery of
content in context
• Overwhelming
amounts of content
•Focus on authority and
currency (news)
• Focus on authority
•Topic & portal specific
frequent updating
• Whole book
continuous updating
•Hand-selected
documents + “Expert
Picks”
• Only automated
document selection
•More images, audio,
video & interactives
• Mostly text with some
multimedia
•Content types exposed
through buckets
• Content types hidden
behind tabs
•Emphasis on quality,
value & desired results
• Emphasis on quantity
•Now• Then
Evolution: Content

44. Content
Content and Functionality
Gale Think products feature a wealth of
media-rich content and functionality
organized to provide context for
learners:
•Weblinks•Viewpoints•Video
•Statistics•Science
Experiments
•Related
Portals
•Reference•Primary
Sources•News
•Magazines•Images•Fact Boxes
•Expert Picks•Audio•Academic
Journals

45. Highlights
Product Highlights Summary:
 The Gale Think portfolio of products is paving the way for
Gale to continue to support libraries while also extending
into the classroom and student workflow
 All products will have a consistent end-user experience
 No other competitive product on the market is serving up
content in the same way (in context through portals)
 Features: search assist and “did you mean,” interactive
Google Maps, fact boxes, APA citations & more
 Over 1,500 hand-crafted portals at launch with resources
dedicated to adding/updating portals on a regular basis

46. Topic Overview
Each portal page has an overview providing the
user with easily digestible reference content
Featured Image
A featured image adds interest to the page and
immediately puts the topic into a visual context
Expert Picks
Featured documents and multimedia hand-
selected by GALE editorial staff
Video
Video related to the topic
Images
Browsable thumbnails of images related to the
topic with links to full size images
Audio
Streaming and downloadable audio related to
the topic
Fact Boxes
Quick facts related to the topic available at a
glance & consistent with open web alternatives
Related Portals
Additionals portals related to the topic that
provide more information and promote discovery
Weblinks
External links to editorially reviewed sites that
augment GALE’s authoritative reference content
Content Buckets
Content formerly hidden behind tabs is exposed
through buckets such as news, magazines, etc.
Anatomy of a Portal Page*
The Portal Experience
The portal page provides an unparalleled end-
user experience by delivering precise content in
context
Topic selection is based on the following criteria:
- Top searches in-product
- Curriculum
- Subject matter experts
- Customer feedback
- News-related events
*Wireframe may not reflect the exact look & feel of the final product

47. Launch
Production Dates:
Gale Think Opposing Viewpoints: May
2010
All other Gale Think products:
June - July 2010
(Exact dates TBD)

48. Notes
Additional Notes:
 We started with high school, other products to follow
 Products not currently impacted:
– Student Resource Center Junior Edition
– Junior Reference Collection
– Discovering Collection
– Kids InfoBits
 Literature Resource Center (LRC) to follow soon
 SRC Health will be folded into Gale Think Student Edition
 “Critical Thinking” will remain a separate product add-on

49. The Future
Future Plans:
 These Gale Think products are just the beginning!
 Future releases of the Gale Think products will continue to
support library activities while also reaching into the
classroom through tools and enhancements such as:
– Product add-ons such as course-specific content, interactives, etc.
– Enhanced curriculum standards with correlation to specific portals/content
– User (instructor) created custom portal pages and content selections
– Assessment creation and administration with grade books
– Communication, collaboration and community tools
– Mobile (handheld device) versions of applications
– Learning Management System (LMS) integration