ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 22, 2008 - Demand for technical information at public libraries is at an all-time high, with patrons demanding information on everything from home computing to iPods. New Safari® Select, distributed exclusively by ProQuest, is an online collection of more than 400 technical e-books on popular technology, enables public libraries to meet those needs with a simple, online solution that patrons can use in the library or from home.

"It can be challenging for public libraries to maintain a print collection of the latest technical books in a wide enough range of topics to accommodate customer needs," said Todd Fegan, vice president of publishing for ProQuest.  "One ProQuest public library advisory board member referred to her IT collection as a 'black hole' because they can't keep up with the changing technologies and the cost of constantly getting new print books. ProQuest listened and worked with Safari Books Online to develop a solution that specifically addresses this issue."

With Safari Select, public library patrons can search for and find online answers to the most routine or complex technology questions in hot subject areas such as computing, desktop applications, digital photography, home entertainment, the Internet, Windows, Macs and PCs.  Safari Select will continuously evolve, adding about 100 titles annually that keep libraries up to date on the latest technology developments.

Safari Select includes the bestselling authors, titles, and series that patrons know and ask for by name, including these leading series:

• For Dummies
• David Pogue's Missing Manuals
• Visual QuickStart Guides
• Microsoft Press Step by Step
• Head First and Hacks from O'Reilly Media
• Scott Kelby's Digital Photography books
• Classroom in a Book from Adobe Press
• QUE's Absolute Beginner's Guides

Safari Select contains best-selling titles from the world's top IT publishers, who together represent more than 80% of all computer book sales in the U.S., including O'Reilly Media, John Wiley & Sons, Microsoft Press, and imprints from Pearson Technology Group such as Peachpit Press, Addison-Wesley, Prentice Hall, Sams Publishing and, QUE. 

"We've selected bestselling titles from our 5,000 plus title library that make the computer and popular technology more worthwhile in the everyday lives of customers from 8 to 80 years old. Whether you're learning to use Windows Vista or Office 2007 for the first time, send digital photographs to grandma,  book a trip online, master a new videogame, or just put your self on MySpace or Facebook, you'll find how to do it easily and quickly on Safari Select," said Mike Violano, VP Reseller Management at Safari Books Online.

Safari Select is now available to public libraries everywhere. For more information about Safari Select or any ProQuest product visit www.proquest.com