Boston Globe Archives Questions

Here are answers to some of the questions we hear about the Globe archives.

What stories are free?

Stories that appeared in the paper today (the current day) and yesterday (the previous day) are accessible free of charge. You will be able to go directly to these stories and will not be prompted for a user name and password or for payment.

What articles are included in the archive?

Only articles written by Boston Globe staff writers and reporters since 1979 are included in the archives. Stories by freelancers are not included. Boston.com original content is also not included. A separate archives is available for stories that appeared in the Globe between its founding in 1872 and 1922. Stories between 1922 and 1979 are not yet available electronically, but are available on microfilm in many public and academic libraries.

What are my payment options?

You must have a credit card in order to make a purchase. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are all accepted. You can save money by purchasing a package of articles at one time.
[ More on article packages ]

When will my credit card be charged?

You will only be charged to view the full text of an article. If you have purchased a multiple article pack (3, 10 or 25 articles) only one charge will appear on your bill. You will only be charged again if you attempt to view more articles than the number of articles in your original purchase.

How do the article packs work?

When you purchase an article pack you are purchasing the rights to view multiple articles, either all at once or spread out over time. As an example, say you purchase a 10 article pack and immediately after purchasing you view 6 articles. Then you come back two days later and try to view an article. You should be prompted for a username and password, then allowed to view the article (your seventh of 10). Three days later you come back and access 4 more articles. When you try to view the fourth article of the day (and the eleventh overall) you will be prompted to pay again.

Why am I allowed to view some articles without paying?

Articles that were in the newspaper today or yesterday (the previous day) are available free of charge. You will not be prompted for a user name and password or for payment when you try to view an article from today or yesterday. If you have purchased a multiple article pack, any article you view from today's or yesterday's paper will not count against the total number of articles that you have purchased.

If you have purchased a multiple article pack you will be prompted for a user name and password, but will be allowed to view the full text of an article without having to make a new purchase.

If I purchase an article pack, how do I keep track of the number of articles I have left?

You should keep track of the number of times that you view the full text of an article so it doesn't come as a surprise when you're prompted to pay again. You should also save the e-mail confirmation you will receive after making your purchase; this will remind you of the date you bought the article pack. Remember, the article packs are not only article-based but time-based as well. You have one month from the date of purchase to use the 3 article pack and one year from the date of purchase to use the 10 and 25 article packs. If you feel that you are not getting access to all the articles you have paid for, please contact Newsbank at 1-800-896-5587 or by e-mail at newslibrary@newsbank.com.

What if my credit card number changes?

For security reasons, Newsbank does not store your credit card data. Therefore, you will be prompted for your credit card information every time you make a purchase. Providing it is a valid card, you can use a different credit card each time you make a purchase.

Is there a discount for schools or non-profits?

There is not a discount available at this time.

What if I can't log in?

If you have any technical difficulties, either with your user name and password or with the payment options, please contact Newsbank at 1-800-896-5587 or by e-mail at newslibrary@newsbank.com. Newsbank will respond within one business day; longer on weekends and holidays.

Are photographs, charts and graphs available?

Photographs, charts, and graphs are not available in our archives. If you would like to inquire about these services, please visit the Boston Globe Services site.

What parts of the newspaper are not included in the archives?

The following sections or features that appear in print are not currently part of the Globe archives: Confidential Chat, Ask The Globe, Chess Notes, some special sections in the Sunday Globe, comic strips, wedding and anniversary announcements, print or classified ads, and special advertising supplements or sponsored sections. Many Letters to the Editors and many guest columnists or editorials are also not included.

What can I do with this article once I've purchased it?

You may use articles that you purchase for personal use or research purposes. You may not re-sell any articles or post any articles on the Web. If you would like to purchase article reprints or license articles for republishing, go to www.globereprints.com.

How will I receive this article?

Your article will be displayed in your Web browser on a page formatted in a similar fashion to the rest of the Boston Globe online. At this time we do not offer easy-print or email capabilities for articles.

What information will be included as part of the article?

In addition to the headline and full text of the article, you will also see the author, the publication date, the section of the newspaper in which it appeared, and the number of total words in the article.