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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: searchers on Monday 03 June 24 22:01 BST (UK)

Title: British Newspaper Archive subscription question
Post by: searchers on Monday 03 June 24 22:01 BST (UK)
Hello,

I've subscribed to FindmyPast before, but not to the British Newspaper Archive. 

The BNA is affiliated with FindmyPast.  I'm wondering if everything in the BNA is available through FindmyPast?

It seems like it would be...  I just wanted to verify, in case there's a chance the BNA is a larger or different collection.

Many thanks,
Charlotte
Title: Re: British Newspaper Archive subscription question
Post by: Andy J2022 on Monday 03 June 24 22:23 BST (UK)
My understanding is that they both access the same scanned material and optical character recognition results, but use different search engines to find things, with the FindMyPast search tool being slightly better in my opinion.
Title: Re: British Newspaper Archive subscription question
Post by: AlanBoyd on Tuesday 04 June 24 08:32 BST (UK)
I have access to both, but I mainly use the BNA interface because that’s how I started. One feature that it offers which I don’t think is available on FindMyPast is the ability to bookmark articles to named folders: if you are carrying out a broader piece of research this is very useful.
Title: Re: British Newspaper Archive subscription question
Post by: AntonyMMM on Tuesday 04 June 24 09:01 BST (UK)
I used both for many years, but having found that the FindMyPast search engine is much improved I now just use that and haven't renewed with BNA.
Title: Re: British Newspaper Archive subscription question
Post by: Jebber on Tuesday 04 June 24 09:56 BST (UK)
The British Newspaper Archive is owned by Findmypast who in turn are owned by DC Thomson &Co.  So I don’t see any point in to subscribing to both. Originally the search facility was easier on the BNA website but now the Findmypast search facility is far superior.
Title: Re: British Newspaper Archive subscription question
Post by: AllanUK on Tuesday 04 June 24 13:17 BST (UK)
I agree with the posts that Find My Past being the better of the two as it does have a better search engine.
Title: Re: British Newspaper Archive subscription question
Post by: Biggles50 on Tuesday 04 June 24 14:51 BST (UK)
I took up a cheap BNP subscription offer.

Blitzed the records and took screenshots of all articles of interest.

Then cancelled the auto renewal.

For me the BNA is simply not worth subscribing to long term on its own.
Title: Re: British Newspaper Archive subscription question
Post by: searchers on Tuesday 04 June 24 20:01 BST (UK)
Thank you all so much for your insight!

That's good information to know, and will be helpful for future subscription decisions -- hopefully for others too, who come across these messages. 

Thanks again, much appreciated.
Have a good day,
Charlotte