Cambridge, UK., 18th April, 2007 - ProQuest CSA and the Museum, Libraries and Archive Council (MLA) are delighted to announce the launch of KnowUK and NewsUK online reference and newspapers services for public libraries in England.

ProQuest CSA and the Museum, Libraries and Archive Council (MLA) are delighted to announce the launch of KnowUK and NewsUK online reference and newspapers services for public libraries in England.

The agreement to deliver these two core online reference and newspaper services to participating public libraries is the result of a deal brokered between the MLA, on behalf of public libraries in England, and ProQuest CSA. These services will be offered via MLA's Reference Online, part of the wider Framework for the Future programme.

Jennifer Jackson, ProQuest CSA Regional Sales Manager commented, "This is a tremendous achievement by the MLA on behalf of public libraries in England. ProQuest CSA is delighted to be able to offer these libraries KnowUK and NewsUK, two key reference and news resources, offering considerable savings. We have significantly reduced the cost of these services and widened access to them across public libraries in England."

Susi Woodhouse, Senior Network Advisor, MLA said, "MLA is delighted to be working in partnership with ProQuest CSA to deliver KnowUK and NewsUK. Our improved agreement will benefit libraries choosing to take up the offer, but most importantly widen access to a range of quality materials to library users. Collaboration between suppliers and publishers is the right way forward."

Reference Online provides a testbed for developing good practice in the procurement of commercial electronic products and services, and streamlines the procurement process by negotiating agreements on behalf of public libraries in England.

KnowUK provides libraries with a complete collection of current UK-specific information from over 100 of the most widely used reference publications in the UK. NewsUK provides access to an extensive collection of national newspapers, regional newspapers and magazines through a single database, maximising research time and cutting down on information overload.

About the MLA 

The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council works with the nine regional agencies in the MLA Partnership to improve people's lives by building knowledge, supporting learning, inspiring creativity and celebrating identity. The Partnership acts collectively for the benefit of the sector and the public, leading the transformation of museums, libraries and archives for the future. For more information, visit: www.mla.gov.uk

Framework for the Future is the government's vision for public libraries in England. In 2003 the MLA was tasked with the development and implementation of an action plan to stimulate and support public libraries in England in delivering that vision.

 

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.