Recent Praise

NewsBank’s Life in America Collection is a suite of fully searchable digital archives exploring the American experience through diverse cultural and historical lenses. It includes six thematic subsets—Black Life in America, Hispanic Life in America, Indigenous Life in America, Asian Life in America, Immigrant Life in America, and LGBTQ+ Life in America—each built around thousands of news sources documenting lived experience, cultural identity, and social change.

The collection supports research and teaching across the humanities and social sciences, particularly in diversity, equity, and inclusion- (DEI-) centered curricula. The platform’s effective search and guided discovery tools offer a stable user experience, though visual content presents some accessibility limitations. Licensing terms are standard, though they restrict text and data mining and provide limited pricing transparency. Where Life in America really shines is its content: a broad array of resources that provide in-depth coverage of underrepresented communities in the United States, including an impressive selection sourced from those communities themselves.

Product Overview/Description
Life in America centers on US history but incorporates international coverage where relevant. Its design directly supports DEI goals by highlighting materials from within the communities represented, such as Black-owned newspapers or Spanish-language publications. Intended primarily for academic libraries, Life in America supports coursework and research in history, sociology, ethnic and cultural studies, political science, and journalism.

Each individual collection within the Life in America suite is divided into three series. The first two are archival databases, while the third covers contemporary history. For example, Asian Life: Series 1, covers 1704 to 1941 (“Early 18th century to US entry in WWII”); Series 2 covers 1942 to 2017 (“WWII to the 21st century”); and Series 3 covers 2018 to the present (“Asian Americans in the twenty-first century”).

The archival series are available to purchase as standalone collections from Readex, NewsBank’s archival database provider, and include perpetual access to millions of documents. Series 1 primarily contains historical newspapers; Series 2 and 3 include newspapers alongside videos, blogs, newsletters, journals, magazines, transcripts from news programs, and other sources. The collections are sprawling: for example, Asian Life provides access to over 35 million primary source documents in 41 languages (Asian Life in America, n.d.).

Series 3 interfaces serve, essentially, as specialized discovery layers, pulling relevant content from NewsBank’s massive Access World News Research Collection, where content is updated daily. Series 3 content is only available to Access World News subscribers, who have the option to purchase Series 1 and/or 2 content, increasing the depth of the archive.

Life in America’s “Suggested Searches” are a distinctive (and prominently marketed) feature. While technically these operate as pre-constructed Boolean queries, they are more than canned searches. Curated by editors rather than being generated automatically, the Suggested Searches embed historically appropriate terminology, variant descriptors, and date parameters aligned with major events and social movements. This design mitigates a persistent challenge in historical newspaper research: the problem of language that shifts across time, including outdated, community-specific, or now-obsolete terms that novice researchers may not anticipate. In this way, the feature functions as both research scaffold and instructional model, demonstrating effective search construction while lowering the barrier to entry for undergraduates.

The collections are hosted on the NewsBank platform (discussed in a 2021 Charleston Adviser review of the Access to World News Research Collection) and require no special software beyond a web browser.

User Experience
The landing page for each collection features a prominent search box, underneath which are links to “more search options” “date search,” which allows users to limit by date or date range, and “map search,” which pulls up a map the user can click to see resources from a particular region (Figure 1). Below that are the Suggested Searches.

FIGURE 1

The NewsBank platform that hosts Life in America was assessed in a 2021 Charleston Advisor review of Access World News (Ismail, 2021). When current NewsBank subscribers add any of the Life in America collections, a link to the collection is added to the right side of the NewsBank homepage (Figure 2).

FIGURE 2

I searched for “civil rights march” in series 1, 2, and 3 of the Black Life in America collection. In the search results, each article appeared with metadata including headline, source publication, date, page number when applicable, and a snippet of the article with keywords highlighted. On the left, a panel of useful limiters included “sort by” (best match, newest, oldest), date, source type, etc.

The default search in NewsBank is set to “newest,” but I often found myself often switching to “best match” for the most relevant results (Figure 3). Clicking on “Advanced Search” opened a second search box set to search by date, with additional filters available (e.g., author, source, headline, caption, word count). To create a very precise query, I could click on “+” to add additional search boxes.

FIGURE 3

I clicked on the first search result; an html text version of an article from the Journal Gazette opened in the same window with my keywords highlighted. Articles from a full-image source open in the same window within an embedded viewer. Users can also preview an article from the result list, opening a small pop-up window with the first few paragraphs displayed (Figure 4).

For full-image articles displayed in the embedded viewer, I could zoom in/out and scroll page by page. Both the html text and full-image options allow users to adjust text size, cite, email, print, download, save, or copy the permalink. A “Back-to Results” button quickly returns the user to the result list, with their search filters intact.

FIGURE 4

In the “Suggested Searches” section, I tried “Arrival in America (Beginning–1783)” further limiting to “Rebellions, Uprisings, and Revolts/New York Conspiracy (1741) Early 21st Century” (Figure 5). The results showed the preset advanced search boxes and limiters, allowing me to make adjustments to the search strategy (Figure 6). I also appreciated that the Suggested Searches default to the “Best Match” rather than the “Newest” sort.

FIGURE 5

FIGURE 6

For students and novice researchers in particular, this feature provides a pathway into the material without requiring advanced search expertise. It also models how multiple terms and concepts can be combined to retrieve meaningful results. As users explore the resulting documents, they can refine or expand the query further. The Suggested Searches also reduce the trial-and-error phase of keyword selection and help users quickly locate historically contextualized primary sources within the database.

The Suggested Searches cover a broad range of topics. For example, in Black Life in America Series 3, topics include Activist Groups, Court Decisions, Education, Government, Laws, Literature and the Arts, Notable People, Religion, Technology, and more. The Eras and Suggested Searches covered in Series 1 and 2 are, of course, much broader and include historical sources, with topics dating back to 1704.

Overall, navigation within each collection is intuitive: tabs or links enable quick switching between full-text search, filtering options, result sorting (by date, relevance, publication) and facets (topic, era, publication). NewsBank does not, however, support searching across collections; each Life in America collection stands alone. The interface is mobile-responsive.

Accessibility
In an accessibility statement on its website, NewsBank indicates that it aims to conform with the WCAG 2.2 Level AA standard and with US ADA/Section 508 compliance (NewsBank, n.d.). Additionally, a January 2025 Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) for NewsBank Inc. published on the Library of Virginia website shows that the platform supports many success-criteria of WCAG 2.0-2.2 at Levels A and AA, although some image-scans lack text-equivalents (NewsBank Inc. Accessibility Conformance Report WCAG Edition, 2025).

Keyboard navigation is supported; when I tabbed through the interface, focus order was logical. In the default theme, color contrast was acceptable. For users who rely on screen-readers, the underlying HTML portions are accessible, but full-page image scans present a challenge: as indicated on the VPAT, unless OCR text was embedded, a screen reader may not obtain the content of the scan.

I did not locate a dedicated accessibility roadmap for upcoming features specific to the NewsBank interface, although NewsBank’s “Accessibility” page invites feedback and indicates the use of third-party audits (NewsBank, n.d.).

For libraries serving users of assistive technologies, this product provides a reasonable level of accessibility support. But libraries may wish to proactively assess whether individual scanned-image documents (with limited embedded text) meet their users' needs and be prepared to provide assistance or alternate access.

Contracting and Pricing Provisions
For both subscriptions and perpetual purchases, NewsBank grants a non-exclusive, non-assignable license for non-commercial academic, educational, and research purposes. For public libraries, authorized users are defined as staff, residents of the geographic area, and on-site walk-in patrons. For academic institutions, they include students, faculty, staff, visiting scholars, and on-site walk-in patrons.

Content cannot be provided to non-authorized users, used to create derivative works, or shared via interlibrary loan. Data and text mining are also prohibited without prior written approval. Remote access, where authorized, must be for personal use only.

NewsBank and its third-party providers retain all rights to the content, software, and compilations. Users cannot remove or alter copyright notices within the product.

With the purchase of a perpetual license, the user retains access even after the subscription ends. If NewsBank ceases to provide online access, they will provide an archival copy of the data in a mutually agreeable format at the customer’s cost.

According to my Readex representative, NewsBank provides COUNTER compliant reports but does not provide MARC records.

NewsBank does not publicly publish pricing for the Life in America collections.

Authentication Models
NewsBank provides standard institutional authentication options for the Life in America collections. Primary access is IP‑based, enabling seamless on‑campus use without individual logins. For remote users, institutions typically configure proxy server access (e.g., EZproxy) or VPN authentication.

Federated authentication is supported through common SAML frameworks, including Shibboleth and OpenAthens, allowing single sign‑on (SSO) integration with campus identity providers.

Competitive or Related Products
There are a number of primary-source databases similar to NewsBank’s Life in America Collections. ProQuest’s Ethnic NewsWatch provides access to work from contemporary ethnic and minority presses. In addition, like Life in America, it has an archival component with historical sources from 1959–1989. Gale offers comparable content through archives such as Archives of Sexuality and Gender, Indigenous Peoples of North America, and Latino Social and Political Culture and History. Each emphasizes identity-focused primary sources and cultural history, but with a broader variety of sources, including not just newspapers but books, manuscripts, photographs, and art.

EBSCO’s Ethnic Diversity Source overlaps topically with Life in America, but leans more toward secondary scholarship, including peer-reviewed journals and ebooks, rather than newspapers and periodicals. It does contain primary sources, including newspapers, speeches, letters, and interviews.

Readex also produces complementary primary-source archives, such as African American Newspapers and Hispanic American Newspapers, which can function as either stand-alone alternatives or collection enhancements.

Critical Evaluation
NewsBank’s Life in America collections are useful primary source discovery tools that meaningfully support teaching and research centered on historically underrepresented communities. The collections provide an incredible depth and breadth of content from the eighteenth century to the present; the content drawn from within the communities represented is particularly strong.

The interface is clean and functional, with effective basic and advanced searching and useful date and publication filters. The Suggested Searches’ pedagogical utility and subject-expert curation add meaningful value, particularly in identity-focused collections where terminology is historically contingent.

The platform does, however, have a few friction points. Although eye-catching, the mosaic of photos behind the search box takes up most of the page, forcing the user to scroll to see all of the Suggested Searches. The browsing of image-edition newspapers (PDFs) can be slow on lower-bandwidth connections, and the interface doesn't clearly indicate if an item is a full-image scan versus plain-text transcription unless you open it. The ability to do proximity searches or wild-card truncation, though supported, is less obvious, which may limit power users.

NewsBank’s licensing terms are standard, but libraries may find the restrictions on text and data mining and interlibrary loan rights limiting. The lack of pricing transparency makes cost comparison difficult. The absence of MARC records will also be an issue for some libraries.

Recommendation
I recommend the Life in America collections for academic libraries supporting programs in ethnic and cultural studies, sociology, political science, journalism, and American studies. Their identity-centered primary-source coverage would be especially valuable for institutions advancing DEI-focused curricula or seeking to expand representation of underrepresented communities in archival collections.

The product would provide the most value to undergraduate institutions, graduate programs, and faculty researchers who rely on historical and contemporary news sources for teaching and scholarship. Community colleges and teaching-focused universities would also benefit from the collections’ curated entry points and guided searches, which support student discovery. Public libraries may find some value in the collections too, especially if they serve a significant population of one of the communities featured.

Founded in 1939, BBC Monitoring listened to radio broadcasts to help Britain and its allies understand global dynamics and assess emerging threats. Its efforts led to the creation of detailed reports from open-source intelligence transcripts that informed and guided military and political decision-making within and beyond the UK. This database is a compilation of 70,000 multiple-page intelligence reports from 1939 to 2001, now housed in the BBC Written Archives Centre. It is organized into four distinct chronological series and includes speeches, current affairs debates, political discussions, and social and cultural event briefs. A gamut of world affairs topics and events are covered, with a focus on World War II, the Cold War, the Chinese Cultural Revolution, the Middle East (the Iranian Revolution; the Persian Gulf Crisis), and the Soviet Union/Russia.

The home page is well laid out, with a prominent basic search bar located front and center; top navigation menus allow users to access additional features and information portals, including Home, Advanced Search, Text Explorer, Help, Other Databases, My Folder, and Share Feedback. There’s also a “How To Use This Database” link that’s a terrific guide with excellent screenshots and detailed instructions. My Folder stores documents for reference and referral. Share Feedback opens a survey for users to complete about the archive.

The archive is an exceptional source of primary documents about political, social, military, cultural events, and intelligence gathering from the start of World War II to the early 21st century. Its usability and functionality are superb, and its features are intuitive and seamless. This continues the Readex tradition of offering outstanding primary historical content in a presentation that is straightforward, comprehensive, and user-friendly.

“This extensive database of previously unaggregated primary-source documents provides a view of the United States government’s documentation of a crucial period in U.S. and Indigenous history. A valuable resource for researchers seeking firsthand reports in U.S. political and military history.

This recently completed database includes 1,038 tribe names, 172 agencies, 407 treaties, and 2,655 names—at least 1,000 of which belong to Indigenous peoples previously undocumented online. Documents comprise letters and telegrams to and from superintendents, agents, and the commissioner of the Bureau; communications from tribal leaders; annual reports of superintendencies; treaties and negotiations; registries of letters; and detailed historical background notes created by the curators of the National Archives. 

The landing page is straightforward, with links at the top supplying an overview of the site contents and detailed information on conducting and modifying searches, using facets, and working with image content. This informational section also provides an excellent description of the limits and advantages of optical character recognition.

Once a result is selected, the document appears as a series of images of the handwritten original. Beyond simply reading the document, researchers can generate citations, download documents, print, or send the document by email.”

"Black Life in America and Hispanic Life in America are outstanding resources for newspapers and primary sources, relevant across a wide range of disciplines at our institution. I have been impressed by the approachable layout, suggested searches and above all, the historical material contained within these two databases. I have also recommended the suggested searches for students looking for a topic for a research project.

I have explored these databases with students both in workshops and one-on-one, and in both cases we have found historical newspaper articles that contribute valuable information to students’ research topics. Most importantly, many of these students have gone on to continue to use these databases on their own. The databases are simple to learn and use, especially with easily accessible geographic and date filters.

A group of seniors told me that they had worked as a group to find relevant articles for their final research papers after attending one of my workshops. The students mentioned being surprised by the quality and relevance of material that they found.

I plan to continue showcasing both databases in my classes, workshops and individual research consultations with students in the future. Historical newspapers are an often underutilized resource when students are conducting research. Both databases offer an approachable entry point for students to find invaluable historical resources on a wide range of topics."

“A wonderful resource for students and scholars working on the propaganda and news dimensions of the Cold War. The BBC’s key role in that conflict has yet to be fully explored. This resource points to the need to do that and to appreciate, in the process, how vital a part Britain played in the Cold War.”

“The BBC Monitoring Service Summary of World Broadcasts collection provides English-speaking researchers with unparalleled access to written translations of international radio broadcasts. The collection is a particularly valuable resource for researchers and students seeking to understand the role of radio propaganda and the use of open-source information in intelligence-gathering in World War Two.” 

“The BBC Monitoring archives form a treasure trove of information, casting a fresh light on historical material for researchers. My work on intercepted radio broadcasts relating to India during the Second World War revealed to me what a rich and valuable collection these archives truly are. ...I also viewed the monitoring reports themselves as processes of representation, crafted by the agency of the monitors who exercised choice in what and how to transcribe.”

“The BBC Monitoring archive is an extraordinary, little-known collection covering most of the important events of the twentieth century. As well as offering remarkable source material for scholars and students of intelligence, espionage, warfare, international relations, diplomacy, and the media, readers will find information in the vast range of documents about social change across the world, about refugees and emigres, political upheaval, and an everyday history of a tumultuous century. …BBCM is not just a useful source for research but, in many ways, a guide to recent world history.”

“…this is one of the treasures of the world and a global resource deserves global recognition. Any citizen of the world can find something relevant to them in this material. This is a history of the world speaking to the world. …It's an amazing, amazing resource. It's as versatile as the person who asks it questions.”

“Readex’s Web-based America’s Historical Newspapers (c. 2004– ) offers a vast and ever growing digitized collection of American newspapers from 1690 to the present, and I draw the material for this article from Readex’s online database.”

“…Territorial Papers of the United States, offers ‘the official history of the states’ formative territorial years’….Documents, many of which are handwritten, ‘include official correspondence with Washington, Native American negotiations and treaties, military records, judicial proceedings, population data, financial statistics, land records, and more,’ making this an excellent resource for students and scholars of American history, frontier studies, Colonial studies, and Native American history….Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty.”

“Featuring excellently reproduced primary source documents in an easy-to-use format, this rare collection of religious texts provides a unique look at a significant period in early American history. The suggested searches allow for patrons or researchers, regardless of experience or knowledge, to make good use of the collection, while the textual analysis tool offers an extra layer of discovery. A valuable resource for institutions that support research in history, religion, political science, American studies, social studies, and other interdisciplinary studies.”

“The Readex online database America’s Historical Imprints has made important additions…sure to interest teachers and researchers….These four recent supplements…have drawn on photographic technology (producing high-resolution images) that will allow readers both to read more seamlessly and to obtain insight into the items’ textual materiality.  As such, these newly released supplements to the online archive are well suited for renewed application and appreciation in the classroom.

“The four recent supplements…are invaluable resources for the study of early decades of nineteenth-century America’s print and literary cultures. A few gems include beautifully illustrated botany texts, full-color maps, over two dozen previously unreleased editions of novels, an assortment of printed merchant notes and trade advertisements, and fascinating juvenile fiction and crime confessionals with ornately detailed woodcuts. The 2,000-plus available broadsides—now pristinely visible through the database—offer a glimpse into the materiality of the sheet’s paper grain while also repackaging these broadly popular forms into more readable format….These new releases have such an improved quality of textual imaging that they will not only encourage further scholarly endeavors into questions around textual materiality but also enhance student engagement.”

“The sheer size of these supplements is impressive; these thousands of texts offer a wealth of information reaching into every corner of early American life. The breadth of these supplements represents one of its main strengths, complemented by the excellent organization and the high-quality images.

“The subject list has two levels and includes everything from honeybees to gynecology to fairy tales. These subjects made the database very easy to browse, enabling users to easily discover new texts. The extensive subject list and types of works available lend themselves to undergraduate exploration of the archive….The databases make clusters of texts such as these easily available for exploration, prompting us to think about them in new ways….But the best part of these supplements is the way the wide range of materials situates the texts in the mundane, material world of early America….This is the rich potential of the database supplements, which are wonderful additions to the online archive and great assets to teaching early American literature.”

“The great depth, scope, and variety of the documents will please researchers….Though the database is simple and user friendly, it’s also rich and laden with features….Navigating within the database is seamless, and the quality of the digital documents is excellent….Readex creates outstanding primary historical source databases, and this collection is no exception. The quality and comprehensiveness of its coverage are first-rate, and features and search options are excellent. This is a stellar resource for researchers of Native American and colonial American history as well as for scholars of military history, political science, linguistics, and natural history of the period.”

“Bringing together the most extensive collection of American works published for children between the years 1654 and 1819, this resource….features tools for textual analysis, author bios, and suggested search paths that facilitate browsing….The texts found here serve as more than a record of books for children; they also offer a window into early American life….This comprehensive resource provides researchers with an avenue through which to explore issues related to early American childhood through literary works aimed at children….Readex makes it simple to search the collection, while the highly detailed taxonomy of research subjects offers an extra layer of discoverability, empowering experts and novices alike. With works ranging from primers to religious documents, this is a valuable selection for multidisciplinary research in education, social and race studies, history, religion, and more.”

“For those that love mining for hidden historical gold in archival records, this database provides a level of access to the documents within the Territorial Papers record groups that would be unobtainable to most researchers previously. For others, those that are fond of the prior edited volumes, this database now will provide all of the associated records that relate to information found in what was previously published and should offer new insights into related documents that were largely inaccessible.”

Need to track the progress of a tribal treaty? Examine correspondence between territorial officials and Washington? Research accounts of battles and troop movements? Review records of agricultural and industrial production? Examine shipping records? Explore firsthand accounts of frontier life via letters and financial documents? Trace family histories using passenger lists? View petitions for statehood? All this and more can be done using Territorial Papers of the United States, 1764-1953.

“…a truly exceptional resource….The organization and formatting of the subject browsing category provides an excellent, easily navigable resource for new users or students exploring topics for a class project or research assignment….The broad coverage of The American Slavery Collection—materials that range from the lived experiences of enslaved peoples to nineteenth-century history textbooks and more—allows for a wide range of research on slavery and abolition in the nineteenth century….the digitization of more than three thousand printed materials on slavery from the vast holdings of the AAS is a phenomenal addition to the growing assortment of digital resources related to slavery.”

“…a treasure trove of early American metropolitan journalism, providing a rare glimpse into unique, short-lived, and often bawdy newspaper titles which found their glory days between the 1830s and 1850s. Akin to the tabloid presses of today, these publications often presented the seamier aspects of everyday urban society, often preaching against the very topics on which they reported. In the more than sixty papers available through the American Antiquarian Society, this collection represents some of the rarest of all American newspapers and contains unique research material for those in urban studies, women’s studies, criminal justice, Victorian society, and the literature of the nineteenth century. The latest Readex interface provides a variety of user options to view, search, and explore this array of visual ephemera and includes new and enhanced user features for scholarly research….

“The visibility and clarity of each article is truly stunning, since the database allows for significant detail and zooming options….The Flash Press Collection is made up entirely of primary source material, making it ideal for courses rooted in this type of historical examination and exploration….From the standpoint of accessibility and significance to scholarship and research, the value of this rare and unique primary source content cannot be overstated.”

“Nineteenth-Century American Drama is a comprehensive collection of 4,700 American plays published or produced between 1820 and 1900….The plays reflect their time, providing contemporary and unfiltered perspectives about 19th-century issues such as women’s movements, temperance, westward expansion, immigration, war, industrialism, slavery, reconstruction, and abolition….This is an excellent resource of 19th-century primary materials about American theater, life, culture, history, literature, economics, political science, religious and ethnic studies, and sociology.

“The layout and functionality of the database are simple but efficient….suggested topics offer comprehensive options for narrowing or broadening searches. For example, under ‘depictions of ethnic, racial, and religious groups in cast,’ there are 27 subjects found, including Arabs, Catholics, and Jews….Search results are retrieved quickly, and navigation is seamless. The plays are featured in their original form and wording, lending the database credibility. The digitalization quality of the works is outstanding, as is the database’s overall organization and functionality. The viewing options make for an effortless reading experience, and the content and play selections are thorough and balanced.

“…its interdisciplinary nature expands appeal to anyone researching the myriad aspects of 19th-century American life and culture. It provides a lens into not only what people read but also what they saw, and joins a long list of outstanding database products from Readex.”

"Established in 1902, the Johannesburg-based Rand Daily Mail was a key South African media publication. It was shuttered in 1985 because of its antiapartheid perspective. Readex has compiled every article, advertisement, editorial, cartoon, and photograph printed by the Rand Daily Mail, offering a new avenue for research on the turbulent history of 20th-century South Africa….Those studying journalism, communications, or 20th-century history will find this a valuable addition.”

"Propaganda and the Chinese Press presents a trove of articles published in communist newspapers between 1946 and 1996, compiled and translated into English by a U.S. organization that eventually became part of the CIA….The archive spans the rise of Mao Zedong to the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square protests and offers Chinese perspectives on the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Cultural Revolution the collapse of the Soviet Union, and more, as well as insights on political leaders worldwide….As with the Rand collection, this resource displays excellent article scans and is an overall helpful resource for anyone interested in Asian studies, media studies, Cold War and 20th-century history, political science, communications, and propaganda.”