As a long term user of parts of the National Archive's Documents Online service, I'm surprised to report that I welcome the recent changes to its war diary service.
With changes to "improve service" such as barriers in the car park in mind, it was with a sinking feeling that I recently tried the system, but the experience was mostly good. Gone is the laborious [and expensive] break down of digitised diaries into monthly downloads, replaced with Brigade level groupings. This extra information may be unnecessary for those researching an individual's war service- but if your interest spreads to units and engagements it is superb. This repackaging does result in large files to download, but amazingly not large prices! Previously a download, likely to cover a month, cost £ 3.50, but a whole Brigade's [commonly 3 or 4 units] whole diary can often be purchased for the same price.
Signs of a credit crunch busting National Archives? Or the ground work for more fundamental changes?
I've been very impressed with the changes too, it makes records much more accessible to more people which has to be a good thing. I guess a lot of researchers might sniff at the fact that there is a lot more family history going on at Kew, but again, more people interested in history has to be good.
Posted by: James Daly | October 02, 2009 at 07:42 PM