ANN ARBOR, Mich., July 22, 2003 - ProQuest Information and Learning has launched PQNext, the latest version of the award-winning ProQuest® online information service. Introduced to applause from hundreds of librarians at a special preview at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Toronto last month, PQNext encompasses a wide range of new features for both novice and expert researchers in educational institutions worldwide. ProQuest Company's (NYSE:PQE) Information and Learning unit creates and distributes databases to libraries and educational institutions.

Notable new features include browseable lists, results grouping, comprehensive search results and OpenURL support. Also available: formatted bibliographies, refined help functionality, library branding, and an improved display. All of the enhancements were developed to help professional and novice researchers accomplish their research goals quickly with pinpoint accuracy.  All elements are easier to read, thanks to the improved image display in a larger viewing area. Still, it has a familiar look which will make the transition from old to new much easier for users.

Formatted bibliographies were the most popular feature at the ALA preview for PQNext. The audience applauded the Auto Citation Style option, which lets users mark articles online, then print a bibliography on the spot in their choice of citation styles.   PQNext automatically formats the citations.  Choices include:  ProQuest Standard; AMA; APA; Chicago: Author-Date; Chicago: Humanities; MLA; or Turabian. The list includes a brief explanation of the best uses for each citation style, ideal for those unfamiliar with all the options.

"Excellence in indexing remains the foundation of all the interface improvements and the key to accurate search results.  PQNext allows users to harness the full power of ProQuest's high-quality indexing," said Rod Gauvin, senior vice president of sales and marketing for ProQuest Information and Learning.

"Our editorial team provides the tools for users to create precise searches and to work with search results with ease. We’re also pleased to offer improved library branding, which was high on customer wish lists, along with revamped Help features and OpenURL linking."

Library branding identifies a database as a paid resource of the library or educational institution hosting the searcher and allows users to return quickly to the library home page, if necessary.

Among other new features in PQNext:

• Unlimited date range searching ─ since March, users have been able to search the whole collection or use any of several common-sense date range options.  PQNext incorporates new date search tools for easier navigation through ProQuest's enormous vault of data
• Complete article counts on every search – users know the exact number of results
• "More like this" option helps users refine their searches by finding more information on the same topic; one click offers a checklist of the index terms from the article. Click on the relevant terms and automatically find more highly relevant articles
• Article grouping by publication type. With a click, users can look at just the newspapers, scholarly journals, trade publications and more
• New "Auto Citation" feature allows users to mark articles online then print a bibliography in their choice of citation styles
  Indexing and controlled vocabulary terms are transparent with the new "Browse Topics" link
• Searches on business topics may be refined using classification codes and NAICS codes, a fast way to precisely target by topic, industry or market, geographic area, or article type
• Our OpenURL technology lets users link directly from the citation to the full text of an article in ProQuest or one of our many linking partners. PQNext offers integrated access for the targets and destinations that libraries rely on: e-journals; catalogs; document delivery services; and linking resolvers
• Users may sort results by relevance
• "My Research Summary" records marked articles, previous searches and publications visited, all available for review in one easy-to-find location. Edit, add headings and notes, print or download it in a self-contained HTML file for viewing from any Web browser

The new interface is available to use on every proprietary ProQuest® product.  A demonstration of the new interface, and complete descriptions and guides for its many features, are available on the ProQuest website: www.il.proquest.com.   Free Web-based training is available for North American customers for a quick start with the new ProQuest platform.  Attendance is limited. Sign up or check out the schedule: www.il.proquest.com/pqtraining.

 

About ProQuest
ProQuest creates specialized information resources and technologies that propel successful research, discovery, and lifelong learning. A global leader in serving libraries of all types, ProQuest offers the expertise of such respected brands as Chadwyck-Healey™, UMI®, SIRS®, and eLibrary®. With Serials Solutions®, Ulrich's™, RefWorks®, COS™, Dialog® and now Bowker® part of the ProQuest brand family, the company supports the breadth of the information community with innovative discovery solutions that power the business of books and the best in research experience.

More than a content provider or aggregator, ProQuest is an information partner, creating indispensable research solutions that connect people and information. Through innovative, user-centered discovery technology, ProQuest offers billions of pages of global content that includes historical newspapers, dissertations, and uniquely relevant resources for researchers of any age and sophistication—including content not likely to be digitized by others. Inspired by its customers and their end users, ProQuest is working toward a future that blends information accessibility with community to further enhance learning and encourage lifelong enrichment.

For more information, visit www.proquest.com or the ProQuest parent company website, www.cig.com.