CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, January 9, 2004 - ProQuest Information and Learning and IRIS announce a major licence in the Republic of Ireland for key Chadwyck-Healey electronic publication Early English Books Online (EEBO).

The institutions that now have perpetual online access to the only complete surviving record of the English speaking world for 227 years are: University of Limerick , NUI Galway, NUI Maynooth, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, University College Dublin and The National Library of Ireland.

EEBO provides instant access to rare English books from 1473-1700; containing over 125,000 titles, comprising 22.5 million page images, and a wealth of rare, difficult to access works. The breadth and depth of material contained within the collection provides endless opportunities for research across a vast range of subject areas – from history, English literature, religion, music and the arts to physical science and women’s studies. In 2003 EEBO customers viewed over 10 million images and have downloaded 2 million works.

Commenting on the agreement, Prof Jane Ohlmeyer , ( Erasmus Smith Professor of Modern History; Head of Department, Trinity College Dublin) says, “ EEBO is an indispensable research tool for early modern scholars and their postgraduate students. It is also invaluable as a teaching resource since EEBO introduces undergraduate students to texts, both canonical and lesser known, as they appeared to their first readers in the early modern period.

Whether providing historical background from a variety of perspectives, illustrating the growth in parts of the book industry, or simply furnishing facsimiles of works as they originally appeared in print, EEBO has offered students and scholars and innovative way of studying the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.”

Since last November users have been utilising an upgraded interface providing improved browsability, navigation, searching, and additional features for optimising use of these rare texts – as well as almost 500,000 pages of new content. EEBO continues to bring the early the treasures of early printed English literature to life.

For further information about EEBO visit http://eebo.chadwyck.com/marketing 

About IRIS
IRIS is the Consortium of Irish University and Research Libraries, its members being the libraries of DCU, NUI Galway, TCD, UL, UCC and Enterprise Ireland.

IRIS provides a ‘virtual’ union catalogue to enable simultaneous cross-searching of its members’ and other major research library catalogues. IRIS was originally established in 1993 as a project under the EU Telematique Programme. In addition to the resource discovery function of the virtual catalogue, further development will enable the management of interlibrary loans and document supply among its members and other libraries.

More recently, IRIS has assumed a role in the negotiation of consortial purchase deals for electronic resources. EEBO is the first of these to be finalised on behalf of all but one of the universities and the National Library. A major saving of funds was achieved through this consortial approach to purchase, and IRIS hopes to facilitate the consortial procurement of other valuable research material in the future.

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.