"HeritageQuest Online provides a simple way for genealogists to pinpoint information from an impressive and varied array of resources," said Jeff Moyer, vice president of publishing at ProQuest Information and Learning. "Using simple search techniques, users will be able to cross-search U.S. census data, banking and military records, obituaries, more than 24,000 family and local histories (both monographs and serials), and more. The interface is specifically designed for use in libraries, servicing both novice and sophisticated users with functionality such as full-text searching, remote access, relevancy ranking, online note-taking, and more.

"HeritageQuest Online fulfills a growing need, particularly in public libraries. As one of the top hobbies in the U.S., genealogical research continues to attract enthusiasts seeking information from their local libraries."

HeritageQuest Online will include the following unique attributes:

• Highest-quality census indexing (all names verified before indexing; 99% accuracy rate)
• Remote access for library patrons
• Access to all available U.S. census records (with full page images, allowing users to see handwritten entries in early census data)
• Multiple search elements - personal name (first and/or last), place (state, county, town, other), demographic information (age, sex, race, and birthplace), type of material (periodicals, monographs, obituaries, census, and more), keywords (company names, topics, dates, other), and many more
• Full-text searching and full page image display - Users have the option to search the full text of books and quickly click to the page image. The search experience is enhanced by viewing materials in their original context.

In the first release of this product (now available), complete census data from 1790, 1800, 1810, and 1870 is fully indexed and viewable in full page image. In addition, 1840 census data is fully browseable by locality (with name indexing to be added shortly). Also available are 16,000 family and local histories; 8,000 additional titles will be added. Remaining census images for census years from 1790 to 1930 are scheduled for loading later this year. Family and local histories come from all 50 states, as well as from Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Scotland, and other countries. The collection will be ongoing, with new materials to be added weekly.

Other genealogical information to be added includes obituaries from 150 newspapers, Freedman's Bank Records (an African-American resource), and Revolutionary War Pension Files.

For more information on HeritageQuest Online or to request a trial, please call 1-800-521-0600, ext. 3183 or 3452 (outside the U.S., call +44-1-223-215-512), or pqsales@il.proquest.com. Editors may call 1-800-521-0600, ext. 3805, or email pr@il.proquest.com.

ProQuest Company (NYSE: PQE) is based in Ann Arbor, Mich., and is a leading provider of value-added information and content to the library and education, and automotive and powersports industries. We provide products and services to our customers through two business segments: Information & Learning and Business Solutions. Through our Information & Learning segment, which primarily serves the library and education markets, we aggregate and publish value-added content from a wide range of sources including newspapers, periodicals and books. Our Business Solutions segment, formerly known as Bell & Howell Publishing Services, is primarily engaged in the delivery in electronic form of comprehensive parts information to the automotive market. It also provides dealers in the powersports (motorcycle, marine and RV) markets with management systems that enable them to manage their inventory, customer service and other aspects of their businesses. Additional information on ProQuest Company can be found at www.proquestcompany.com.

ProQuest Information and Learning is a world leader in collecting, organizing, and distributing information worldwide to researchers, faculty, and students in libraries and schools. Known widely for its strength in business and economics, general-reference, humanities, social sciences, and STM content, the company develops premium databases comprising periodicals, newspapers, dissertations, out-of-print books, and other scholarly information from more than 8,500 publishers worldwide. Users access the information through the ProQuest® Web-based online information system, Chadwyck-Healey^TM electronic and microform resources, UMI® microform and print reference products, and XanEdu^TM online faculty and student resources. For more information about ProQuest Information and Learning, visit www.il.proquest.com.