CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, June 28, 2004 - To ensure public libraries across the state of Victoria are kept at the forefront of delivering quality electronic information, The Gulliver Consortium has procured key electronic databases from ProQuest Information and Learning.

Forty-three branch libraries in the state will offer access to four of ProQuest's leading databases: ABI/Inform ®, Academic Research Library^™( ARL); ProQuest Science Journals^™ (PSJ) and Australia and New Zealand Newsstand (ANZ Newsstand ).

Library patrons will be able to access these databases from their local branch or via remote access through the VICNET webpage.

"The Gulliver consortium keeps going from strength to strength . This year after a major review of our core group of products, the membership has decided to take up the ProQuest range of products - not only will libraries be offering more subject choices to their customers but they will also be offering more depth with the content. The Gulliver consortium has seen a 300% increase in usage over the past six years as more people are using online resources for their information needs. Libraries ensure that customers receive authoritative information and are now providing this in a wide range of formats," said Julie Rae, Gulliver Convenor & Chief Executive Central Highlands Regional Library Corporation.

Julie Stevens, ProQuest's Regional Sales Manager for Australia & New Zealand said, “We are delighted to extend our relationship with Australian Public Libraries in a manner which benefits the Victorian community”.

The demand for premium online resources from library users and researchers is ever increasing. The selection of ProQuest databases will allow library patrons within The Gulliver Consortium to take full advantage of some of the most authoritative and comprehensive content available online.  Meanwhile, the extremely user-friendly interfaces and easy to follow search options included in these databases ensures maximum results with minimum effort.

ProQuest’s ABI/INFORM® is relied on by students, lecturers, librarians and businesses around the world for authoritative, current coverage of the most pertinent business and management issues.

ProQuest’s Academic Research Library^™ is an online general-reference database providing academic libraries with high quality titles covering a broad range of humanities and general reference subjects.

ProQuest Science Journals^™ offers instant access to the latest news, research and scientific developments. ProQuest Science Journals offers full-text for over 200 key publications.

Australia and New Zealand Newsstand (ANZ Newsstand) offers users local, national, world, business, sport, political, technology and entertainment news from key news providers in Australia and New Zealand. Users have access to over 500,000 full-text articles per year.

For further product information or a free trial e-mail sales@anz.proquest.com

Media enquiries should be directed to Gina Ghensi, Communications Manager , ProQuest, +44 (0) 1223 271 473 or email gina.ghensi@proquest.co.uk

About The Gulliver Consortium
The Gulliver Consortium enables libraries, public and otherwise, to access high quality online databases at competitive prices. Gulliver liaises with vendors, evaluating databases, promoting them to libraries, and facilitating libraries' access to databases.  A Steering Committee facilitates the choice of databases to be included in Gulliver.  The committee is made up of Public librarians from many different fields, currently working in Victorian libraries. These librarians have volunteered to go on this committee, and their commitment, and that of their library services, is very high.

Databases available through Gulliver are high quality and extremely relevant to customers' needs. Information is to be authoritative and appropriate to the reading level of library members. Member libraries influence the type of databases included by asking for the evaluation of certain products, and by letting committee members know their needs.

Further information can be found at www.libraries.vic.gov.au/gulliver

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.