By James Speed Hensinger
BCR, in cooperation with Chadwyck-Healey, is creating a consortial purchase of
Chadwyck-Healey's 20 web-accessible humanities and social sciences databases.
BCR's special consortial pricing offers huge savings for all types of libraries, but
particularly emphasizes discounted pricing for smaller institutions that ordinarily might
find these valuable products too expensive. Large libraries can expect to save up to 20
percent on individual databases, while smaller libraries may see up to 90 percent savings.
Eight-week free trials are available from August 1 through October 31, 1998. The trials
are IP-number limited and not password controlled. Sign-up for a trial on BCR's web
site:.
Libraries familiar with the databases may subscribe immediately; all orders, however,
must be placed with BCR no later than October 31. Consortium subscriptions are not
available after that date. The initial creation of BCR's consortium requires the
participation of at least 20 libraries. The subscription period will be November 1, 1998
through October 31, 1999. A mid-year open enrollment period is planned for April 1999.
Orders should be placed via BCR's electronic form at. More information is available on BCR's web page at
and by contacting Jim Hensinger or at BCR.
Chadwyck-Healey's pricing is based on two criteria:
Some of the more prominent databases available are:
Historical News- papers Online provides rapid access to
the historical archives of two of the world's largest English-language newspapers The
Times of London and The New York Times. Publication of the first two components,
Palmer's Index to the Times, 1790-1905 and Official Index to the Times, 1906-1980,
provides access via the indexes and enables researchers to search across multiple years.
When the Historical Index to The New York Times, 1851-1920 is added in the fall,
libraries will be able to compare the American and British perspectives on events for a
very significant period of history.
(Available September 1998.)
The National Security Archive contains
previously classified documents now declassified under the Freedom of Information Act.
This web database features more than 35,000 declassified documents from 12 collections
under the heading "The Making of U.S. Policy." The collections include compilations
such as Afghanistan, 1973-1990; The Berlin Crisis, 1958-1962; and U.S. Espionage and
Intelligence, 1947-1996. Detailed chronologies, glossaries and photos provide an
integrated view of current history. (Available September 1998.)