CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, November 11, 2005 - Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, has signed ProQuest to host its institutional repository.

This is the first installation in New Zealand of Digital Commons@ – a new initiative from electronic database publisher ProQuest.

Digital Commons@ is powered by the vigorous Bepress platform. Libraries using Digital Commons@ are able to offer key services such as usage statistics at the paper and site level, personalised email notification for newly posted content, peer-review journal capability, export to XML, OAI compliance, and more. These features cannot be matched by freeware solutions available on the market.

Victoria University of Wellington, a 106 year old research-led university, will have immediate access to its own institutional repository as part of a feasibility study to examine the workflows and policy requirements involved in running a successful Open Access repository, and academics' attitudes to such a facility.

"Our selection of Digital Commons@ was based upon very strong feedback from existing customers and because the product offers us immediate access to the functionality we seek” said Keith Webster, University Librarian. “Digital Commons@ will complement our existing systems and procedures and offer a simple approach for academics who wish to add their research outputs. We know that they are keen to maximise the impact of their research, and are glad to be able to work with ProQuest to offer a proven system with global reach."

Digital Commons@ has experienced rapid market acceptance with current customers including prestigious institutions such as University of Surrey, University of Pennsylvania, Boston College, Thomas Jefferson University and Cornell University – School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Austin McLean, director of scholarly communication and dissertations publication for ProQuest said: “The repository movement has taken hold at institutions around the world, and we welcome Victoria 's University's use of Digital Commons. Having a single repository for the entire depth and breadth of an institution's intellectual output enables researchers the world over, as well as funding agencies, easy access to this material."

In addition, the technology is also used by California Digital Library, Florida State and New England Law Library Repository, including University of Connecticut , and Yale.

If you would like further product information please e-mail marketing@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.