Scopus Press Releases: - Toronto Researchers First to Get Benefit From Scopus

Toronto Researchers First to Get Benefit From Scopus®

University of Toronto Signs up to Scopus Pre-Launch

Amsterdam, September 22, 2004

Researchers at the University of Toronto, Canada’s biggest academic institution, will be the first in the world to license Scopus, even prior to its commercial launch in November 2004. The University of Toronto library is delivering their scientists a proven aid to better results, following their decision to invest in Elsevier's highly anticipated, full text-linking abstract and indexing (A&I) database.

As one of twenty development partner institutions across the world, the University of Toronto has been working with the Scopus team to guide development of the new product, so it answers the needs of all its users. Throughout this two-year period, the library team has evaluated Scopus, giving them the confidence to commit to the product prior to launch.

Marshall Clinton, Director of IT Services at University of Toronto Libraries and a Scopus development partner comments: “We have enjoyed being involved in the development and trial of Scopus. It has given us the opportunity to see how the product will fit into our portfolio of library offerings. After careful consideration we feel that Scopus offers a boost to research productivity at Toronto, and will become a highly valued information source. It is a product we believe in and are delighted to have.”

Jaco Zijlstra, Director of Scopus, says this early deal is due to Elsevier’s partnership with the universities around the world who helped the Scopus team realize their vision: “Scopus was developed to give users exactly what they wanted. The feedback from them has been positive to date and confirmed that we got it right. This commitment from the University of Toronto is a strong endorsement.”

But while the University of Toronto was instrumental in bringing Scopus to the world, a decision to buy the product was not a foregone conclusion according to Andrea Schweikert, Scopus Sales Director: “There is no doubt that Scopus offers significant advantages but it wasn’t just a matter of turning up with the contract for signature. Since implementing an early version of Scopus, the University has seen the real benefits it offers. They were able to validate their decision on the basis of this positive user experience.”

For more information on Scopus please visit www.news.scopus.com.

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Notes to Editors

For more information, or to speak with the Scopus development team, please contact the Scopus Press Office on +1 703 255 0277 or email news@scopus.com.

Scopus Background

Scopus is Elsevier's highly anticipated, full text-linking abstract and indexing (A&I) database
The first fully functioning version of Scopus was released to select libraries for final testing and user trials on 15th March 2004. Full commercial release of Scopus is 3rd November 2004
Scopus was conceived solely in response to librarian and user requirements, and is the result of a two year collaboration with librarians and researchers at over 20 of the world's foremost institutions
At the heart of Scopus is the biggest A&I database of scientific literature ever assembled, covering titles from over 4000 STM publishers. Scopus also simultaneously searches the scientific Web using the science-only Internet search engine, Scirus
The Scopus user interface offers easy-to-use searching straight from the home page and intuitive browsing tools
Users can link to their entitled full-text articles in one click, making ‘dead-links' a frustration of the past
Industry-leading levels of reliability and powerful delivery are coupled with local customer support, customer-specific usage reports which have just been awarded COUNTER-compliant status, as well as on- and off-site training, to make Scopus a complete package for librarians and end-users

About Elsevier
Elsevier (www.elsevier.com) 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 6,800 employees in 86 offices worldwide publish more than 1,800 journals and 2,200 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.news.scopus.com/), bibliographic databases, and online reference works.

Elsevier 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).

About University of Toronto
Founded in 1827, the University of Toronto is Canada's largest and most distinguished university. Consistently ranked Canada's top research-intensive university by Maclean's magazine, U of T offers teaching programs in 17 academic divisions. Its programs are held on the historic St. George campus in downtown Toronto, on campuses in Mississauga and Scarborough and in nine fully affiliated teaching hospitals in Toronto.

Along with the diversity of a world-class university, U of T also offers the intimate scale of small college life. The university is composed of 10 colleges, each with a distinctive feel and sense of community. It has more than 150 student clubs and organizations on all three campuses and innumerable activities ranging from cultural events at Hart House to intercollegiate and intramural sporting activities.