ANN ARBOR, Mich., January 10, 2008 - ProQuest and Historic Map Works announce an exclusive distribution and development partnership, which will bring an extensive collection of highly-detailed, full color historical maps to libraries. This new product, available in 2008, will help support both genealogical research done at public and research libraries as well as serious location-based research and land-use trends/monitoring at academic institutions and corporations. ProQuest will be the exclusive provider of the new institutional version of Historic Map Works to libraries globally.

"This latest partnership represents our commitment to providing the best and most comprehensive genealogy and local historical research solutions to libraries and their patrons," said Rod Gauvin, senior vice president of publishing for ProQuest. "The exclusive distribution agreement brings electronic historic maps in a patron-friendly resource to libraries for the first time."

Historic Map Works' high quality, full color digital collection of historic maps is one of the most extensive available. The core of the collection consists of nearly 100,000 cadastral, land ownership maps detailing the geographic and development history of the United States over several hundred years. There is extensive coverage of rural and suburban areas, as well as cities and towns across America.

In addition, Historic Map Works print collection contains more than 100,000 contemporaneous pages of illustrations and more than 1,000 city directories related to the cadastral maps, allowing additional research capabilities. Nearly 100,000 antiquarian maps covering the world from the 15th to 19th centuries are being added. This exclusive program with the University of Southern Maine's Osher Map Library includes many of the world's most important printed maps.

Historic Map Works' unique indexing gives historical views of locations, allowing researchers to search churches, cemeteries, ancestral lands, land boundaries, as well as migration patterns, community growth, topography and more.  Historic Map Works currently has nearly 80,000  maps and illustrations covering North America, and will grow to more than 200,000.   Historic Map Works also contains city directories and phone books that enable users to better trace and associate individuals with locations - a key component in genealogical research.

 

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.