By Jana Cranmer
January 14, 2008

In an effort to provide students with greater access to research data and information, Ryan Library now subscribes to EBSCO’s Academic Search Premier. The database, which will replace ProQuest, offers 4,493 articles, nearly twice the number available through ProQuest.

In addition, the program provides access to more full-text journals and allows students to simultaneously search multiple databases.

“This will really make people’s lives better in terms of finding information,” said Ryan Library Director Frank Quinn. “When you’ve got a single database configuring with 19 others on the same platform, you’ve got something extraordinary.”

The $35,000 annual subscription was purchased at a rate of $20,000 as part of a discounted package with the Business Source Elite database, a database of business articles.

Quinn said the new subscription is “a bit of a leap of faith” financially, as it costs four times what ProQuest costs, but he believes the subscription is the right decision for PLNU to stay on par with other reputable colleges and universities.

“Particularly students in the Education, Psychology, Nursing, Business, Kinesiology, History and Political Science, and the Theology and Christian Ministry departments will find treasures in here,” Quinn said.

The library will hold Academic Search Premier tutorial sessions open to all students, staff and faculty on Friday at 3 p.m. in the Bresee Lab and on Wednesday, Jan. 23, at 11 a.m.