ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 24, 2005 - ProQuest Information and Learning's acclaimed CultureGrams™ product line expanded with the release of World Conflicts Today. The unique online resource examines seven ongoing world conflicts and explains their history, complexity, and current status to students in clear, straightforward terms. ProQuest Information and Learning creates and publishes databases for libraries and educational institutions worldwide.

"This is a ground-breaking product," said Al De Seta, President of K-12, ProQuest Information and Learning. "It’s difficult to find accurate, unbiased coverage of these conflicts. Unlike most free internet sites, the reports written for World Conflicts Today were developed independent of any political agenda."

Each online report averages 80 pages and, focuses on a single conflict, exploring its past, present and implications for the future.  Developed with input from hundreds of primary and secondary sources written from multiple perspectives, the reports synthesize news articles, treatises, and editorial commentary, helping students digest complex issues.  Academic experts working in relevant fields were used as reviewers to ensure the accuracy and objectivity of the content.  Support material integrates reference content with curriculum standards and classroom activities.  

World Conflicts Today is designed for secondary school students and educators.  Content can also find application in libraries, universities and colleges, business, and government. It includes primary source documents, images, interactive maps, timelines, statistics, a glossary and ideas for the classroom.  Conflicts were selected for inclusion based upon several factors, including their longevity, timeliness, relevance to researchers, general level of interest and geographic coverage. In its first release World Conflicts Today includes reports on Colombia, Darfur Sudan, Jammu and Kashmir, the Korean Peninsula, Northern Ireland, and the Palestinian Territories.

Originally developed at Brigham Young University in 1974, CultureGrams became part of the ProQuest family of products in 2004. CultureGrams products have become renowned since their inception for their powerful combination of in-depth information, in-country perspective, and consistent, easy-to-use format.

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.