By James Speed Hensinger
Poole's Plus is now available to BCR member libraries academic, state and public
libraries at a significantly reduced rate. This Web-based information service from
Paratext Inc. provides access to several 19th century periodicals and monographs.
BCR's Poole's Plus subscription for this introductory year includes not only the core
module but also four series consisting of books, newspapers, individual title indices and
government documents. The content of the core module (as of January 1) includes:
Poole's Index to Periodical Literature (1802-1906), Stead's Index to Periodicals (1890-
1902), Nineteenth Century Monographs File, Nineteenth Century Serials Masterfile and
Library Journal Cumulative Index (1876-1897). The New York Daily Tribune Index
(1875-1906) and the Cumulative List to a Selected List of Periodicals (1896-1899) are
expected to be added the first part of 2000.
Currently the core module encompasses 2.8 million records. New data is being added to
each regularly. For a list of databases to be added, see BCR's Web site at
www.bcr.org/~ids/Reference/Pooles-FAQ1.html.
Paratext Inc. has enhanced the electronic product over the print version of the Index to
Periodical Literature, (1802-1906). The Web site allows searchers to make a single
electronic search across a merged file of six printed indices. Dates have been added to
citations. Both author names and titles, truncated in the print edition, have been fully
expanded on the Web, permitting more accurate searching. Poole's Plus users also can
browse by journal title and search by author.
Paratext Inc. pricing for academic libraries is based on the Carnegie Classification of
Institutions of Higher Education. To learn your institution's Carnegie Classification,
see Annual subscriptions for academic libraries are as follows.
- Research I and II: $2,306 ($3,675 list price).
- Large Doctorate/Medium Doctorate II: $1,844 ($3,175 list price).
- Master's I and II: $1,382 ($2,675 list price).
- BA I: $920 ($2,175 list price).
- BA II and Associate of Arts: $458 ($1,675 list price).
Prices for state and public libraries are based on the populations they serve. Annual
subscriptions are:
- Libraries serving a population of 1 million or more: $2,251 ($3,675 list price).
- Libraries serving a population of 250,001-999,999: $1,349 ($2,675 list price).
- Libraries serving a population of 250,000 or less: $447 ($1,675 list price).
(Each branch library must pay 25 percent of the cost of the main library.)
Besides getting Series II, III, IV and V at no additional charge for the introductory year,
BCR's annual subscription eliminates the surcharge for multiple class B Internet
addresses usually charged by Paratext. Additional libraries may subscribe after the
beginning of the subscription year at a pro-rata amount.
To subscribe, complete the online form on BCR's Web site www.bcr.org. Click on
Reference Databases, then on Poole's.