By LJ Staff

2004 closed with a series of buyouts: in addition to Wiley acquiring Nature Publishing's reference line, the UK-based Bloomsbury expanded its presence in the United States with the December 23 announcement of its pending purchase of Walker Publishing Company. Under the terms of the $7 million deal, "Walker will operate as a division of Bloomsbury's U.S. subsidiary, Bloomsbury USA, with Walker president and publisher George Gibson reporting to Karen Rinaldi, Bloomsbury USA publisher," Bloomsbury reps said. Walker annually releases between 55 and 60 children's and adult titles--mostly nonfiction. The Walker acquisition gives Bloomsbury greater access to the school and library market.