ScienceDirect Significantly Expands Service to ...

AMSTERDAM, February 1 /PRNewswire/ -- - Elsevier's Online Information Resource Popular With German Institutes and Universities During 2005 and 2006, Elsevier (LSE: REL , NYSE: EML), a leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical (STM) information, made several agreements with German research institutes, universities and consortia for access to the increasing wealth of scientific information contained within ScienceDirect, its unsurpassed online database. Most recently, in December 2006, the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft decided to not only continue its ScienceDirect subscription for another three years, but also collaborate in the further development of ScienceDirect: Max Planck will deliver valuable input to make ScienceDirect even more useful for the scientific community. The Fraunhofer Gesellschaft - a vital element in Germany's industrial and scientific landscape - has also chosen ScienceDirect as a source for scientific information. The new agreement with Elsevier ensures that all 12,500 researchers and employees working at 56 Fraunhofer institutes in Germany have access to journal content and an increasing range of reference works, books series and handbooks provided by Elsevier. Also at the end of 2006, four new journal Backfile packages became available to the German research community through a nationwide license funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). This took the total to 14 Backfile packages, which range from the first volume of the first journal until 2002. In addition, over the last two years, several new university customers opted for Elsevier's platform, which hosts one quarter of the world's STM articles. Among the new institutions that have chosen ScienceDirect are the prestigious University of Heidelberg and the universities of Dortmund, Jena, Mannheim, Passau and Greifswald. The agreements with these universities serve a community of about 100,000 students (not counting agreements with other smaller organizations that have been arranged in addition). Elsevier has also consolidated and upgraded existing agreements with customers such as the Saxony Consortium, which has signed a licensing agreement to provide Scopus(R) and ScienceDirect(R) to their research community. The agreement ensures that all nine academic libraries in Saxony will provide more than 90,000 students and researchers with access to the world's most comprehensive and easy-to-use scientific STM information tools. The latest uptake in Germany has come as Elsevier is taking steps to make ScienceDirect more customer focused and further expand its online content offering. In 2006, the company introduced the first in a series of user-driven enhancements with a new User Interface, Improved Browse, Search, and added Personalization Features. In 2007, approximately 4,000 book titles will be added to expand the platform's breadth of coverage. "I'm delighted that ScienceDirect is gaining widespread popularity in Germany," said Joep Verheggen, Director, ScienceDirect. "We have been working hard to ensure that the platform fits with user needs and ultimately helps enhance productivity. That many institutions in Germany will be benefiting from these developments is undoubtedly pleasing. Equally significant is the decision by Max Planck to contribute their valuable input to help ensure that ScienceDirect remains closely tied to what German users want as new technology becomes available and needs change." About the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft The Max Planck Society (http://www.mpg.de/) for the Advancement of Science is an independent, non-profit research organization in Germany. The 80 Max Planck Institutes perform basic research in the interest of the general public in the natural sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. In particular, the Max Planck Society takes up new and innovative research areas that are not yet established at the German universities. About the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft The Fraunhofer Society (http://www.fraunhofer.de/fhg/EN/index.jsp) has a distinctive profile within the German research environment. Research of practical utility remains the focal objective of all activities, whether these involve contract research, pre-competitive research, consulting services or studies. The majority of the Fraunhofer Society's activities therefore take place in the middle ground between public sponsorship and free enterprise. About ScienceDirect Over a quarter of the world's full text scientific, technical and medical (STM) articles - managed by renowned editors, written by respected authors and read by researchers from around the globe - are available in one place: ScienceDirect (http://www.sciencedirect.com). Elsevier's extensive and unique full-text collection covers authoritative titles from the core scientific literature including high impact factor titles such as THE LANCET, Cell and Tetrahedron. Over 8 million articles are available online, including Articles in Press which offer rapid access to recently accepted manuscripts. The critical mass of information available on ScienceDirect is unsurpassed. Coverage includes over 2,000 journals published by Elsevier and dynamic linking to journals from approximately 350 STM publishers through CrossRef. An expanding program of online major reference works, handbooks, book series and e-Books in all fields of science seamlessly interlinks with primary research referenced in journal articles. About Elsevier Elsevier is a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. Working in partnership with the global science and health communities, Elsevier's 7,000 employees in over 70 offices worldwide publish more than 2,000 journals and 1,900 new books per year, in addition to offering a suite of innovative electronic products, such as ScienceDirect (http://www.sciencedirect.com/), MD Consult ( http://www.mdconsult.com/), Scopus (http://www.info.scopus.com/), bibliographic databases, and online reference works. Elsevier (http://www.elsevier.com/) is a global business headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and has offices worldwide. Elsevier is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc (http://www.reedelsevier.com/), a world-leading publisher and information provider. Operating in the science and medical, legal, education and business-to-business sectors, Reed Elsevier provides high-quality and flexible information solutions to users, with increasing emphasis on the Internet as a means of delivery. Reed Elsevier's ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

Companies

Relx plc (REL)
UK 100

Latest directors dealings