FAQs: The Collections
How do you decide which collections to make available?
We select potential additional collections for inclusion in our database according to our academic clients’ wants or needs. Our decisions are based on telephone and written surveys, as well as personal meetings. Of course, we must have complete access to a collection in order to make it available.
What collections are you looking to add to the database?
We continue to search out collections that will complement our current offerings. We currently are researching two collections we think will be of great interest. However, because we still are in the early stages of negotiations we are unable to provide additional information at this time.
Are the collections cover to cover or just particular articles?
Regarding the Pennsylvania Gazette, only the articles that pertain to the Western Hemisphere are included. As far as the rest of the publications are concerned, all articles and images are included unless they are so illegible that the meaning of the article is lost. All advertisements are included, as well.
How is the material converted and how is accuracy assured?
The periodicals fall into two categories, those that can be scanned and read by OCR and those that require keying. In the case of the former, the scanned results are carefully checked for context and closely compared to the originals. The keyed material is converted using a double entry system, a technique that produces excellent results. As a result of these controls, the converted data has an accuracy level in excess of 98%.
What technical support is available for the online database?
Answers to questions or problems are available at:
- Telephone 866-296-1488
- Fax 610-725-1745
- e-mail rnagy@accessible.com
Our technical support staff will respond to your inquiry within 72 hours.
How many additional units will there be for The Liberator?
The Liberator eventually will run to seven units. We recently completed Part II: 1836-1840 and Part III: 1841-1845 and Part IV: 1846-1850 and Part V: 1851-1855. We will continue to add one or two units each year until completion.
Do you know when you will complete African American Newspapers?
This is our most popular resource. We still have a wealth of materials to work through, so we expect this collection to continue to expand into the foreseeable future.
What states do you anticipate adding to American County Histories?
States with counties fully available are Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. New York Parts III and IV will be added by the end of June, 2008 completing that state as well. Other states will be added depending upon the degree of interest shown. As you might imagine, there is a great deal of available materials so we really look to guidance from our current customers as to where to go next.
Is Godey’s Lady’s Book completed?
We have completed Parts I – VI of Godey’s Lady’s Book, covering the years 1830 through 1885. We are currently working on Part VII 1886-1890. and anticipate it becoming available later this year.
Who created the K-12 lesson plans? Will you be adding additional plans?
The lesson plans we include were designed primarily for K-12 schools. A professor in the Education Department at Kutztown University produced them for us. We would like to expand our offerings by adding additional plans, but nothing is in the works as of this moment. We welcome suggestions for subjects to cover in future lesson plans.
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