The Horn Book Acquired by Parent of Junior Library Guild

Columbus, OH — January 21, 2009 — Media Source, Inc., has announced its acquisition of the Boston-based children’s literature company, The Horn Book, Inc., publisher of The Horn Book Magazine and The Horn Book Guide.

Media Source, based in Dublin, Ohio, is best known for its ownership of Junior Library Guild, a review and selection service for children’s and young adult books that has served the library market since 1929.

Horn Book will continue to run its editorial operations from its offices in Boston, Massachusetts, where it has been in operation since 1924. The Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards will remain in Boston as well.
According to Horn Book’s Editor-in-Chief Roger Sutton, “The expertise, enthusiasm, and resources that Media Source brings to the table will allow us to enlarge our audience while maintaining our independent viewpoint and high standards.” Regarding any changes to the magazine, Sutton says, “Our print and digital publications will be refreshed, redesigned, and rethought — but always in line with founder Bertha Mahony Miller’s directive to ‘blow the horn for fine books for boys and girls.’”

Randy Asmo, President and CEO of Media Source, underscores Sutton’s words: “Horn Book and Junior Library Guild will maintain separate editorial offices and operations. We place a very high value on the history, reputation, and status Horn Book’s publications have in the world of children’s literature. Our goal is to build upon those strengths to ensure that The Horn Book remains a valued and respected voice well into the future.”

About Junior Library Guild

Established in 1929, Junior Library Guild (JLG) independently reviews and selects children’s and young adult literature prior to publication in order to provide the school and public library markets with the best new hardcover trade books. JLG’s collection development service helps thousands of libraries across the country to acquire the very best new-release hardcover books.

About The Horn Book

The Boston-based Horn Book was founded in 1924 to herald the best in children’s literature. The Horn Book Magazine, published six times each year, features commentary, articles, and book reviews of selected new children’s and young adult titles. Its sister publication, The Horn Book Guide, includes more than 2,000 reviews in each semi-annual issue. The Horn Book Guide Online provides subscription access to a searchable database of more than 70,000 reviews of children’s books.