ANN ARBOR, Mich., January 24, 2003 - ProQuest Information and Learning has announced the release of new interface enhancements to its popular ProQuest Historical Newspapers product.

The unique nature of historical newspaper content in digital format creates new challenges for searching, and the enhancements specifically address and improve the user experience. In response to feedback from both users and librarians, ProQuest has added new features to help users search the content more productively. Improved date range tools head the list of changes, allowing users to pinpoint specific issues more effectively. Users can now search before, on, or between specific dates more efficiently. In addition, the date range field appears on nearly every search screen, which enables users to narrow or expand the timeframe of their search more easily.

Other enhancements include:

• Seamless searching of the entire backfile, which significantly simplifies broad searches
• Streamlined display of search options, making visible only those options pertinent to searching historical content
• An improved help menu customized for users of ProQuest Historical Newspapers

The ProQuest Historical Newspapers project was initiated in January 2001 as part of the company's ongoing Digital Vault Initiative^TM. The project encompasses newspapers with deep historical value for researchers in various fields. Newspapers in the ProQuest program include: The New York Times (completed April 2002), The Wall Street Journal (completed April 2002), The Christian Science Monitor and The Washington Post (both scheduled for completion in spring 2003), The Chicago Tribune, and Los Angeles Times.

Using advanced zoning and indexing processes, ProQuest digitally reproduces every issue of key newspaper titles from cover to cover--not just the news stories and editorials, but also the photos, graphics, and advertisements. Searchers enter terms (keywords, dates, author's name, article type, etc.) to search the full file. A results list supplies bibliographic information, including date, page number, and author's name (where provided). To see the text, the user simply chooses the article, and the article image is displayed. Users may also display the full page image of any page in any issue. The databases are completely browseable by issue, allowing searchers to browse through entire issues page by page as they would a printed paper. Free trials are available. Libraries may receive more information by contacting their account representative at 1-800-521-0600, ext. 3183 or 3452 (outside the U.S., call +44-1-223-215-512), or pqsales@il.proquest.com. Editors may receive a trial by emailing pr@il.proquest.com. More information about ProQuest Historical Newspapers is available at www.il.proquest.com/products/pd-product-HistNews.shtml.

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.