| ORAL
HISTORY ONLINE
Reviewed
by: Corene Glotfelty, Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Composite
Score: 4 3/8 stars (out of a possible 5 stars)
Content:
5 stars
Alexander Street Press is actively searching
for and adding new oral history collections to Oral History Online with every quarterly database release.
Oral History Online takes the wealth of available oral
history collections and provides access for researchers through
detailed and accurate indexing.
It provides much needed and previously unavailable
comprehensive electronic indexing and controlled vocabulary for oral
history research.”
Searchability: 4 ½ stars
“The navigation is simple and straightforward
while providing detail-rich results.”
Pricing
Options: 5 stars
“Reasonably priced annual subscription fees
are affordable…what’s more, Alexander Street Press indicates
that it will soon announce a new structure with lower pricing.
In addition, discounts may be available for consortial or
multiple purchases.”
Contract
Options: 3 stars
“Alexander Street Press’s license
agreements are what one would typically expect.”
Critical
Review
“Oral History Online is a very useful
product, and I have very few negative criticisms that cannot be
easily rectified.ASP’s
tradition of excellence is partly evidenced by the fact that it is
the 2003 winner of The Charleston Advisor Reader’s Choice Awards for ‘Best
Content’ and ‘Best Contract Options.’
It is obvious that ASP is making its best
effort to produce a top quality product. They actively solicit input and feedback from their users
about their product…Oral History Online is easy to search and
offers many different access points to the wealth of information it
provides…the product’s well-designed navigation bar is visible
on most database screens, allowing easy transition to the various
search options. The rich
indexing at the repository, collection, and interview levels is the
main strength of this product, and it allows information access from
virtually any angle.”
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