CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, May 24, 2004 - You are never too old to learn! That’s the message from ProQuest Information and Learning, which is throwing its support behind Silver Surfer’s Day, on Friday, May 21. Silver Surfer’s Day aims to give people in the UK – silver-haired or not – who are over the age of 50, a ‘taster’ of what email and the Internet are all about.

As a sponsor of the event, ProQuest Information and Learning will be offering free trials of its unique online service KnowUK in libraries across the UK. People are encouraged to drop in for a byte-size introduction to IT. KnowUK offers a complete collection of current, useful and UK specific reference information which appeals to all ages. Users can look up anything from this year’s events being featured at Edinburgh Festival, to Home Secretary David Blunkett’s address, tourist information on Swansea, or even access guides on early retirement.

Now in its third year, Silver Surfer’s Day is a national celebration of older people’s achievements on the Internet and is hosted by Hairnet UK Ltd as part of National Adult Learners’ Week.

In 2003, Silver Surfer’s events were held at 240 locations throughout England, Scotland and Wales, allowing more than 4,500 older people the chance to try e-mail or the internet for the first time.

Silver Surfers Day co-ordinator, Bob Holmes said: “Hairnet UK Ltd appreciate the assistance to Silver Surfers' Day provided by ProQuest Ltd.”

He added: “The sources that can be accessed through KnowUK provide just the sort of information that older people are seeking on the Internet, and we are sure that the Silver Surfers' day event holders will find the free trial offered by ProQuest very useful."

People should contact their local library to find out what's on in their area and to reserve a session place.

For a full list of library locations across the UK participating in the KnowUK trials contact Gina Ghensi, Communications Manager , ProQuest, +44 (0) 1223 271 473 or email gina.ghensi@proquest.co.uk

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.