World Biographical Information System Online
The World Biographical Information System Online ( WBIS Online) is an online database that is based on numerous biographical secondary works. The publisher calls it the most comprehensive and extensive biographical database with information on individuals, families and groups from all classes and professions, from all countries and regions of the world [ ... ].
General
WBIS Online is based on the cumulative digitization of microfiche editions of the Biographical Archives, the KG Saur Verlag has published. These cover, in part, in different series, each represent a country, a language or cultural area from, and reproduce in facsimile form entries from biographical reference books. According to self-reported data of the publisher database comprising (2009) 8.4 million biographical Original articles on more than 6 million people from about 8,600 reference works, published from 1559 until the beginning of the 21st century.
The conversion of microfiche editions was completed in December 2010. Since then, all 58 Biographical Archives digitized versions.
WBIS Online is now managed by the de Gruyter group.
The German Research Foundation ( DFG) has acquired a national license. This allows free access after registration for individuals resident in Germany from home via the private computer. Excluded from free access are made lizenrechtlichen reasons, the content of the German Biographical Archive, which are available for registered users only in some state and university libraries.
Criticism
In assigning the excerpts from the original sources occur due to lack of care in compiling, repeatedly revealed shortcomings: Behind two people hiding on closer examination, one and the same. This person will be counted twice. In addition to a number of people missing the original source. A basic shortcoming lies beyond the lack of quotable source (plant, volume, page ). The stated number of entries can not be verified by the user, the counting is not comprehensible. The accuracy is also not rated.