Internet Reviews

Dawn Behrend

Dawn Behrend is associate dean of administrative services at the University of North Florida Thomas G. Carpenter Library, email: dawn.behrend@unf.edu

British History Online. Access: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/

Created in 2002 as a pilot project, British History Online (BHO) is a repository of British historical and primary documents created by the Institute of Historical Research. Although about 80 percent of BHO’s content is freely available, access to the remaining subscription-based materials was not possible during this review because of technical issues with the site’s payment gateway. BHO provides academic librarians with a robust collection of primary and secondary sources, in addition to advanced search tools and instructional guides that can support faculty research, student learning, and collection development in British and European history.

Locating and browsing content on the site is relatively simple. BHO hosts access to primary sources, secondary texts, guides and calendars, high-resolution maps, datasets, and an option to search the full catalog. These categories appear as helpful facets on the homepage that grant immediate access to the resources.

According to the Institute of Historical Research, there are more than 1,300 primary and secondary volumes and 10,000 map tiles dating back to 500 A.D. through 1999. Users can search and browse through the Calendar of State Papers. Most of the content is transcribed and displayed in HTML directly on the site, and much of the premium material consists of high-resolution scans. Many documents also feature hyperlinked footnotes.

Users will benefit from an in-depth knowledge of British historical documents and key figures from different periods, though a subject guide is available to support those less familiar with the material. This guide provides background information on content like the Calendar of State Papers, Calendar of Papal Registers for Britain and Ireland, and other sources that novice historians can use to familiarize themselves with primary historical resources.

The resource is particularly valuable for institutions supporting undergraduate and graduate history programs because it consolidates a wide range of authoritative sources that would otherwise require navigating multiple archival platforms. Faculty can integrate BHO materials into course assignments, and librarians can recommend them as reliable supplements to print and microform collections. — Christopher M. Hulsman, SUNY Buffalo State University, hulsmacm@buffalostate.edu.

International Monetary Fund. Access: https://www.imf.org/en/Home

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was established by forty-four founding member countries in 1944 in the aftermath of the Great Depression. Today the IMF has grown to 191 countries and “works to achieve sustainable growth and prosperity for all of its members.” The organization is accountable to and governed by its membership.

Individuals affiliated with the organization maintain the IMF website. The site is divided into eight major sections accessible through persistent links at the top of each page: About, Research, Countries, Capacity Development, News, Videos, Data, and Publications. Each section has its own extensive drop-down menu. Content spotlights on the homepage duplicate content available elsewhere on the site. Unique features of the homepage include a “Resources For” section that links to guides targeting specific audiences such as civil society, youth, journalists, and legislators.

The extensive economic data available from the IMF is the standout feature of the website. Although the IMF DataMapper is available on the homepage, accessing “Data” from the top of any page will take users to the robust IMF data page, where the IMF Data Portal can be accessed. Users can enter keyword searches or explore the data explorer tool, datasets, or review the data release calendar browsable by topic or data set filter. Users should be aware that not all datasets are publicly available. Restricted datasets require creating an account. The “Countries” section links to “IMF Country Information” with an A–Z list for accessing country economic data.

IMF’s flagship publications can be accessed from various pages throughout the site, most prominently from both the Research and Publications sections. The latter section has the added advantage of a keyword search box and an advanced search option. Users may find the layout of the publications section easier to navigate with colorful links to popular research titles in addition to a “Papers and Notes” section. Academic librarians will appreciate the “Essential Reading Guides from Our E-Library.” The “Our Resources” section includes links to the IMF eLibrary, IMF Bookstore, and Publications Catalog.

The substantial IMF website has content added regularly, with daily updates for some sections. Additionally, the “News” section allows for page translation into six different languages. Users will want to take their time to explore the vast resources and content available from the IMF. — Christa Bailey, San Jose State University, christa.bailey@sjsu.edu.

National Academy of Sciences. Access: http://www.nasonline.org

The National Academy of Science (NAS) was created in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Act to Incorporate the National Academy of Sciences. This independent advisory body provides scientific and technical guidance, upon request, to any branch of government without compensation. Membership is conferred through election, with nominations submitted by current NAS members. Members represent the following classes: Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering and Applied Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Behavioral and Social Sciences, and Applied Biological, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Other organizations operating under the NAS charter include the National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Medicine, and the National Research Council. Academic librarians will find this resource valuable because it provides authoritative publications, reports, and programs from NAS that can support faculty research, inform science policy studies, and enrich instruction in STEM and social science disciplines.

The “Programs” section includes a number of resources on programs and initiatives of NAS. “Scientific Meetings” features Frontiers of Science designed to expose early career researchers to cutting-edge topics and a network of potential colleagues and International Forums to encourage collaboration among researchers on a global scale. Cultural Programs, Distinctive Voices, LABX, The Science & Entertainment Exchange are all programs designed to engage the public in science discussions. “Science & Society” consists of committees dedicated to issues of importance to the science community.

The “Awards” section highlights all awards offered in the upcoming year, with links to their history, eligibility requirements, past recipients, and online nomination forms. The “News” section features stories and updates related to the academy. “Support Our Work” provides ways to donate and contribute to NAS.

Navigating to “Publications” gives the user access to NAS publications and reports from the National Academies. NAS publishes two peer-reviewed journals: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which becomes open access after a six-month embargo, and PNAS Nexus, a gold open-access journal. Also located under Publications is “Issues in Science and Technology,” which includes articles and podcasts, and “Biographical Memoirs,” which provides full text of nearly 1,900 memoirs of deceased members. Finally, “National Academies Press” allows full-text access to books and publications to read online or download as a PDF at no cost, as well as options to purchase a paperback or ebook. — Meredith Ayers, Northern Illinois University, mayers@niu.edu.