Reveal has engaged a service provider to digitize the newspapers identified for inclusion in Independent Voices. To provide the interface, access platform, and hosting services, Reveal has contracted with iFactory, a Boston-based software design/development company. PubFactory is iFactory’s multi-purpose web publishing and content management platform for books, reference works, and journals, and is used by Oxford University Press, Sage Publishers, and Gale Cengage.

The newspapers are presented in as page-images in color, with searchable text.

Interface functions available in the proprietary platform at the beta stage are fairly basic. A significant inconvenience is the lack of snippet results display for highlighted search terms; navigating through several pages of unconventional format publications searching for the highlighted terms can be challenging. The publisher indicates that snippet display will be available in the full release, as well as limiting results by dates and/or document types. The print function did not seem appear to offer a single page option, and a request for printing a full document did not correctly render all pages--apparently because of delayed download response. Also, there does not seem to be an option for downloading document files. They can be saved to a registered user's account.

The current prospectus indicates that the content may also be hosted on another Web platforms, such as that of a non-profit digital repository.

Strengths and Weaknesses

CRL members considering this pilot project have asked: what process will the project have for libraries to add content from their own collections? How will additional content be prioritized?

While the publisher has provided an  initial title list, it will be important to see other new lists of titles as they are confirmed. How comprehensive and representative will this collection ultimately be in relation to the extensive body of alternative press publications preserved in research collections?¹ What known overlap will there be with other licensed collections (such as ProQuest’s Alt-Press Watch) or open access material? Also, to what extent have rights been cleared for inclusion of this material?

Also, while the Reveal Digital business model aims to minimize participating libraries’ cooperative investment by outsourcing platform development, the proprietary PubFactory interface and platform are not on a par with  other platforms in which digitized newspapers are currently used by researchers at academic libraries, such as the Gale and ProQuest platforms, or LC’s Chronicling America.