DUBLIN, Ohio, Jan. 11, 2002  Subject to a 10-day appeal period, final
closing on the sale of netLibrary assets to OCLC Online Computer
Library Center has been set for later this month, based upon approval
granted today by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado.
The sale includes both the eBook Division and the MetaText
eTextbook Division of netLibrary.

"OCLC has received very strong support and encouragement from
libraries, publishers and distribution partners since the announcement
of our intent to purchase netLibrary's assets," said Jay Jordan,
president and CEO, OCLC.  "We are excited to be in a position to
continue netLibrary's pioneering efforts.  This acquisition will further our
goals of providing libraries around the world with economical access to
knowledge by continually expanding content and integrated services."

"We are pleased to join the OCLC cooperative and to be able to add
eBooks to the impressive lists of products and services already
available through OCLC," said Rob Kaufman, president and CEO of
netLibrary.  "eBooks have proven their value in libraries around the
globe, and we look forward to working with the entire OCLC team to
continue to expand their role in supporting the research, reference and
learning programs delivered through the world's universities and
libraries." netLibrary's eBook operation will become a division of OCLC
and will continue to operate in Boulder, Colorado, serving libraries and
their users.  The digital textbook group will become a for-profit
subsidiary of OCLC and will also continue to operate in Boulder.

netLibrary develops and markets eBooks and MetaText digital
textbooks.  eBooks are full-text electronic versions of published books
that library patrons can search, borrow, read and return via the
Internet.  With netLibrary eBooks, users can access library resources
anywhere, anytime, and perform full-text searches across hundreds of
books or within a specific book to speed research and reference
projects.  eBooks can be viewed online from any location using an
Internet browser.  netLibrary's catalog now contains approximately
40,000 titles covering a wide range of subject areas such as business,
economics, technology, the social sciences and more.

netLibrary also markets MetaText digital textbooks, interactive, web-
based textbooks with enhanced teaching, collaborating and learning
tools for teachers and students.  MetaText works with the leading
textbook publishers to transform print textbooks into course-centric
digital textbook learning environments.  The MetaText catalog of digital
textbooks, which includes more than 160 titles, covers topical areas
ranging from Anthropology to Zoology.