Publication of New Dictionary for English Learners

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
3 December 1999

               BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING PLC
                           
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc today announces the  creation
of Its second large-scale global reference databases  -
a  completely new dictionary for learners of English to
be  published  in  print form world-wide  by  Macmillan
Publishers,  one of the market leaders in  the  English
Language Teaching (ELT) publishing market.

This  is  the  first  of the two  new  databases  being
created  by the company, which were announced, but  not
detailed,  in  the Interim Statement. The new  database
extends the pioneering approach developed by Bloomsbury
for  the  Encarta World English Dictionary  -  a  joint
venture  with  Microsoft Inc. It involves  utilising  a
network of language experts world-wide connected by the
Internet to create this wholly original database.

New   software   and   corpus   resources   have   been
commissioned to meet the special requirements  of  this
new English learners reference work.
       
Bloomsbury's Chief Executive, Nigel Newton said

       '   This   project  firmly   establishes
       Bloomsbury   in   the  first   tier   of
       electronic      reference     producers.
       Bloomsbury  and  Macmillan  expect  this
       new  publication  to  become  the  first
       choice   English  learners'   dictionary
       worldwide.
       
       The   electronic   potential   of   this
       database is vast, as markets around  the
       world   need  well-structured   English-
       language  digital data, in both  British
       and  American spelling and  usage  forms
       for      software,     Internet      and
       telecommunications purposes.  Bloomsbury
       and   Macmillan  are  discussing   these
       rights   with  a  number  of   potential
       partners in these areas.
       
       We  believe this database will become  a
       major  revenue  source for  the  company
       for  years  to come as well as enhancing
       the  growing  value of our  intellectual
       property assets.'

Kathy    Rooney,   Publishing    Director    of
Bloomsbury's  Reference  and  Electronic  Media
Division said.

       'Driven  by  the Internet, commerce  and
       travel  there has never been  a  greater
       appetite  to learn the English language.
       Our  own research estimates that by  the
       year   2052  over  50%  of  the  world's
       population will have some competence  in
       English.   This  new database  is  aimed
       specifically  at  that enormous  growing
       market.'
       

For further information contact:

Nigel Newton, Chief Executive, Bloomsbury Publishing plc: 0171-494-6015

Colin Adams, Finance Director, Bloomsbury Publishing plc: 0171-494-6019

Simon Forrest, Impact Corporate Communications:  0171-355-5150
                                            (m ) 0585-317746