CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, October 2006 - Serials Solutions® has announced the launch of a new Results Clustering feature for its Central Search™ federated search service. Researchers can now quickly identify the resources relevant to their areas of interest. Clustering reveals new and intriguing relationships among citations and assists users in discovering topics that may have otherwise been missed.

On Oct 2, the release date for Results Clustering, more than 30 Serials Solutions Central Search clients went live with the feature. Serials Solutions’ web-hosted model requires no local software loading, making implementation of Result Clustering effortless for the library.

"You really have to see it to believe it - the impact on the research process is phenomenal," says JR Jenkins, group product manager for Serials Solutions. “The best way truly to appreciate the power of Results Clustering is to see it in action. It turns ‘search’ into ‘research’ by finding answers fast.”

Results Clustering integrates the well-know Vivísimo Clustering Engine with Serials Solutions Central Search. Serials Solutions is offering the feature free to all Central Search subscribers. No software or hardware installation is required. Clustering can be deployed by libraries with virtually no effort. As with all Central Search user interface features, results clustering is customisable.

Clustering is intuitive and easy to use, so no training is required for librarians or users. Clustering happens automatically with each search and the results are organised, easily understood and in a customisable format. Library user satisfaction is greatly enhanced and the librarian saves valuable time.

“Vivísimo’s Clustering Engine is an ingenious way to deal with the problem of too many citations from too many resources,” says Jenkins, “Instead of a single ‘right’ answer to a query, clustering provides the end user with a highly usable and informative overview of the terms, dates, resources, and authors found in the citations. The searcher can drill down into specific topic areas quickly and easily. He is exposed to concepts that surround the query – providing him with a global view of the term and presenting a powerful springboard into high quality research.”

The introduction of Results Clustering has been welcomed enthusiastically by clients. Thomas Hogan, Cataloguing and Metadata Librarian at the University of Arizona Libraries said, “We are really looking forward to this technology. When we were considering federated search products last spring it was the clustering technology which really made a difference in our decision making. It makes Central Search stand out as a product and is certainly best for end users. We look forward to implementation.” The University of Arizona is among the libraries that began using Results Clustering on October 2.

“We are thrilled about the integration of Vivísimo Clustering in Central Search,” commented Steve McCracken, Serials Solutions co-founder and vice president. “Vivísimo is a global leader in search and results clustering. Their greatest strengths - rapid performance, superior usability, and high quality cluster creation - are perfect additions to Central Search's robust searching power. With the integration of this new technology, Serials Solutions has indeed taken federated search to the next level.”

Serials Solutions is offering free webinars and demonstrations for those who want to see Results Clustering. You can register for a free upcoming webinar at www.serialssolutions.com/webinarlist.asp or request a free demonstration by emailing info@serialssolutions.com. If you would like further product information please e-mail marketing@proquest.co.uk

About Serials Solutions 

Serials Solutions, a division of ProQuest Information and Learning, is the industry leader providing complete e-resource access and management solutions to over 1600 libraries worldwide. Founded by a librarian for librarians, Serials Solutions helps librarians and patrons find and use electronic content through its Access & Management Suite (AMS), Full MARC Records service for e-journals, Article Linker – Serials Solutions' comprehensive OpenURL link resolver, Central Search – a powerful federated search engine, and ERMS - a lifecycle manager for electronic subscriptions. For more information, please visit www.serialssolutions.com or call 1-866 SERIALS

About Vivísimo 

Vivísimo does search right by combining the simplicity and innovation of consumer search with the flexibility and control of enterprise software. The company works with customers to understand their goals and quickly deploy solutions that maximize the business value of information—with an interface users love. Vivísimo serves its global client base through headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA, and Paris, France, and partners throughout the world. Please visit vivisimo.com to learn more.

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.