Breaking Through the Paywall: Boatwright Memorial Library Provides Free Access to Trusted News Sources

Keeping up with today’s headlines can be expensive, especially as more publications move behind subscription paywalls. But for University of Richmond staff, faculty, and students, access to leading newspapers, magazines, and journals is already included as a campus benefit through Boatwright Memorial Library — opening the door to thousands of trusted sources at no personal cost.

Popular titles include The Atlantic, National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, The Economist, The Washington Post, The New York Times (including NYT Games, Cooking, The Athletic, and Wirecutter), Time, and the Richmond Times-Dispatch for local news and updates.

New to the collection this year is 404 Media, an independent publication founded by VICE journalists that covers topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, privacy, and the societal impacts of technology.

“If you ever hit a paywall when trying to reach a news story, check the library website,” said Jonathan Shank, associate university librarian for budget, operations, and technical services. “There’s a fairly good chance you have access through the University.”

Virtually all resources are also available for off-campus access, but access methods may vary. Instructions, including account activation information when applicable, are available on the News Sources Guide and the A–Z Database. The campus community can search the library’s extensive catalog of print and electronic books, articles, journals, videos, audio recordings, scores, and more at OneSearch. Shank suggests asking a librarian for assistance if needed.

“Access to reliable information is essential to the University's teaching, learning, and research mission,” Shank said. “By providing access to a wide range of sources, the library enables users to explore diverse perspectives, stay informed, and engage with current events without the barrier of individual subscription costs.”