ANN ARBOR ? ProQuest, owned by Cambridge Information Group, has acquired RefWorks LLC, a leading provider of web-based research management, writing and collaboration services for the academic and research communities. No dollar value was announced.

Cambridge Information Group has had an ownership position in RefWorks since May 2001. Complete ownership will enable ProQuest to integrate RefWorks into its COS business – which serves the same market ? creating single-source networking and management tools for scholars around the world.

“RefWorks has been an important asset for many years. Now, this

acquisition allows us to take another step in our larger mission to advance

the research process,” said Boe Horton, ProQuest Senior Vice President. “In

this case, we’re reducing barriers to efficient work by giving researchers

direct ways to connect with each other and the tools they need to leverage

those connections.”

Jeff Baer, ProQuest Vice President and General Manager of what is now

known as RefWorks/COS, will lead the newly merged group. RefWorks’

acclaimed tools are complementary to COS Scholar Universe. With RefWorks and COS joining forces, researchers will be able to turn to one source for tools that help them identify colleagues with similar research interests around the world, establish alliances and manage joint research projects.

RefWorks CEO Earl Beutler will remain a consultant to support strategic

projects from RefWorks/COS. The remaining senior management team of

RefWorks will report directly into Mr. Baer. The other RefWorks staff will

be combined with the COS staff to create a single, integrated organization.

“We’re delighted that the senior management staff that has made

RefWorks the standard in academic collaboration tools will now be a part of

its future as RefWorks/COS,” Baer said. “We’re creating a powerful

suite of tools that will drive research forward. It’s an exciting road

ahead.”

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.

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