Why has access to the Bibliography changed?
The RHS Bibliography enjoyed UK Arts and Humanities Research Council funding for several years but this was always directed primarily at developing functionality rather than adding new records to make sure that the Bibliography was up-to-date. And the particular AHRC scheme on which we were drawing has now ended. After much thought and consultation, the Institute of Historical Research and the Royal Historical Society decided that the only way to develop and enhance the Bibliography in the long term (and therefore to ensure its continuing usefulness) was through a partnership with an experienced commercial publisher – Brepols Publishers. As part of this arrangement, the IHR and RHS have increased their financial commitment to the Bibliography, but it has nonetheless entailed the Bibliography becoming a subscription service.
