Yesterday's weekly online newsletter from the NEHGS had this announcement:
"After ten years of providing access to the Early American Newspapers Series I database through our website, we are disappointed to announce that the vendor of that database, NewsBank, has decided to terminate at-home access for NEHGS users. This change means that NewsBank will no longer allow us to provide access to Early American Newspapers Series I through our website, effective June 12. The database will still be available for visitors in our library..." [bold not in original]
Boo, NewsBank! Their web site indicates they market their product/service to libraries only but if you go to GenealogyBank.com you will learn that you can indeed buy direct from them and get at-home access as an individual to newspapers dating to 1690. Yes, they offer access to some other online things but some you can get elsewhere for free (SSDI) or you might already have access to full-text downloadable documents on another subscription site (fold3.com.) They offer one option: one year for $69.95.
NewsBank, how many NEHGS member takers do you think you will get? Wouldn't it have been a better bet, financially, to just ask the NEHGS for another $5 a head for their tens of thousands of members? Considering the amount of materials they have added recently to their database a dues increased would not have met with much, if any, objection.
"After ten years of providing access to the Early American Newspapers Series I database through our website, we are disappointed to announce that the vendor of that database, NewsBank, has decided to terminate at-home access for NEHGS users. This change means that NewsBank will no longer allow us to provide access to Early American Newspapers Series I through our website, effective June 12. The database will still be available for visitors in our library..." [bold not in original]
Boo, NewsBank! Their web site indicates they market their product/service to libraries only but if you go to GenealogyBank.com you will learn that you can indeed buy direct from them and get at-home access as an individual to newspapers dating to 1690. Yes, they offer access to some other online things but some you can get elsewhere for free (SSDI) or you might already have access to full-text downloadable documents on another subscription site (fold3.com.) They offer one option: one year for $69.95.
NewsBank, how many NEHGS member takers do you think you will get? Wouldn't it have been a better bet, financially, to just ask the NEHGS for another $5 a head for their tens of thousands of members? Considering the amount of materials they have added recently to their database a dues increased would not have met with much, if any, objection.
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