National access to EEBO

JISC has secured long-term access to Early English Books Online for the UK community. They are looking at an interesting approach to further development of the resource by soliciting candidates for digitization from academics.

Now JISC, as part of a deal struck earlier this year with ProQuest to make EEBO free to UK universities and colleges, is calling on UK academics and librarians to choose their favourite texts. A US-based advisory panel will review suggestions. Emma Beer is JISC coordinator of a special UK launch on October 25 at the British Library, which together with the US Council on Library and Information Resources is also steering the project. Professor Lisa Jardine will be introducing the day. Beer says: “This is a crucial chance for UK academics to have their say about titles they would like keyed in.” [Early English Books Online : The Holy Grail of Online Resources?]

EEBO users in the UK are enthusiastic about opening the site to a wider, more diverse audience. Justin Champion, Professor of History of Early Modern Ideas at Royal Holloway, University of London, has used EEBO for nearly six years. “Once you get a taste of what research can be like with EEBO you want more. It transforms how you work. I can work at 2am. I can scribble on my printouts. I’m not restricted by library opening times. I’ve cut my transport costs and time. It’s simply more efficient.”[Early English Books Online : The Holy Grail of Online Resources?]