In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, ProQuest and IBM joined
forces to develop the Shelter Library, supporting the thousands of adults and
children evacuated to Baton Rouge. The Library provides Internet access,
homework help, and traditional services such as recreational reading. It has
been hailed by a number of state agencies as a model program for the delivery
of library services in emergency situations.
Housed in a mobile building, the library opened within a month of the
arrival of Katrina evacuees in Baton Rouge. The library contains banks of
computers with Internet access and reference databases for students, IBM Young
Explorer Workstations for children, and shelves of books for recreational
reading. Expertise and Internet search assistance has been provided by local
librarians and library students from the Louisiana State University School of
Library and Information Science.
Since its opening, the Shelter Library has served hundreds of evacuees,
helping them file insurance claims, connect with loved ones via e-mail, track
emergency aid, and help kids stay current with schoolwork by providing premium
online homework aids. Red Cross, FEMA and other emergency workers have also
relied on the library's computers to file reports and connect with other
offices. Over time, it has developed as an ad-hoc community center for the
residents of Renaissance Village, a trailer community for evacuees. As part
of the New Orleans Public Library, the Shelter Library will serve these
residents as they return home to rebuild.
"The Shelter Library has provided all of us at ProQuest with a deep sense
of pride and fulfillment. It made a tangible difference to parents and
children in need, and underscores the important roles that libraries play in
our communities," said David "Skip" Prichard, president of ProQuest
Information and Learning. "We are delighted that it will continue its service
mission to the people of New Orleans."
About ProQuest Information and Learning
ProQuest Information and Learning is a world leader in collecting,
organizing, and publishing information for researchers, faculty, and students
in libraries and schools. It is widely known for its strength in business and
economics, general reference, genealogy, 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 9,000 publishers worldwide. Users access the information
through the ProQuest(R) Web-based online information system, Chadwyck-
Healey(TM) electronic and microform resources, UMI(R) microform and print
reference products, eLibrary(R) and SIRS(R) educational resources, and Serials
Solutions e-resource access and management solutions. ProQuest(R) Smart
Search was named "Best Specialist Search Product" by the International
Information Industry Awards in late 2005. For more information about ProQuest
Information and Learning, visit http://www.il.proquest.com .
ProQuest Information and Learning is a business unit of ProQuest Company
(http://www.proquestcompany.com ), which has twice been named one of the top
100 fastest growing technology companies in the United States by Business 2.0
as well as one of the 200 best small companies by Forbes Magazine.
SOURCE ProQuest Information and Learning
CONTACT:
Media Contact:
Beth Dempsey
for ProQuest Information and
Learning
248-349-7810
beth@bethdempsey.com
Investor Contact:
Jennifer Chelune
Investor Relations Manager
ProQuest Company
734-997-4910
jennifer.chelune@proquest.com
