The following announcement was written by ProQuest:
Exclusive Partnership Marks Another Milestone for Local History and Genealogy Research
ANN ARBOR, Mich., November 27, 2007 -- ProQuest and Allen County Public Library (Ft. Wayne, IN) add another milestone in their longstanding alliance with the release of the newest data in the Periodical Source Index (PERSI). With this update, PERSI now contains more than 2 million citations from over 6,600 periodicals published in the United States, Canada, and abroad. The new release includes indexing for over 132,000 articles from 2006 and 2007. No other index covers periodical research in local history and genealogy as extensively as PERSI.
As a preliminary step, most genealogical researchers focus on finding primary source documents like census images or using indexes of primary sources. In addition to these resources, genealogists can significantly enhance their research by including secondary sources such as genealogy or local history periodicals as a key finding aid. “If one doesn't use periodical literature on a consistent basis, 33 percent of source material leads may go unnoticed," said Curt Witcher, Genealogy Center manager, Allen County Public Library. "PERSI is already a tremendous resource for genealogists and local historians interested in identifying the data available in periodical literature specific to their research endeavors. Expanded access to periodical literature will be of great benefit to researchers.”
“This release demonstrates the continued commitment of both organizations to serving the genealogical researchers through their libraries,” said Chris Cowan, vice president of publishing for ProQuest. “This PERSI release is part of ProQuest’s ongoing effort to make information easily discoverable for genealogists and local history researchers. PERSI serves as an exceptional resource for guiding researchers through more than 6,600 periodicals published throughout the world.”
PERSI is the standard for periodical research in local history and genealogy. This comprehensive subject index covers genealogy and local history periodicals written in English since 1800. It helps researchers quickly locate helpful articles about families, local history and records, and genealogical methodology.
HeritageQuest Online is the leading genealogy product in libraries throughout the U.S. and Canada. As a key component of HeritageQuest™ Online, PERSI is available online exclusively in the library market from ProQuest. On HeritageQuest Online, users can search PERSI for surnames, places, and how-to advice, and discover publishing information. PERSI is an integral content set within the ProQuest Genealogy Center resources, and is a strong complement to HeritageQuest’s U.S. Federal Census, Genealogy & Local History Books, Freedman's Bank Records, Revolutionary War Era Pension & Bounty-Land Warrants Applications, and the U.S. Congressional Serial Set. More information on ProQuest Genealogy Center Resources can be found at www.proquest.com.
About ProQuest ProQuest provides seamless access to and navigation of more than 125 billion digital pages of the world's scholarship, delivering it to the desktop and into the workflow of serious researchers in multiple fields, from arts, literature, and social science to science, technology, and medicine. ProQuest has long been an advocate for libraries and librarianship. Just a few examples are its longstanding sponsorship of the ALA/ProQuest Scholarship fund-raising event for Spectrum Scholars, the Library Journal/ProQuest Teaching Award to recognize excellence in educating the next generation of librarians, and the ProQuest Library Education Program. More information on these programs can be found on www.proquest.com. ProQuest is part of Cambridge Information Group (www.cambridgeinformationgroup.com).
