National Archives thinks British are ill informed on Domesday

According the National Archives, 2% of the British population think that the Domesday Book is a title from author Dan Brown, he of Da Vinci Code fame.  The headline figure could lead some to believe the masses are un-educated, and I get a sneaky feeling this is the aim of the National Archives media campaign, but the fact that 98% seem to be a little more savvy about history is surely a positive thing.

The misguided 2% probably can't be blamed too much, Mr Brown and his fictional work have dominated publishing headlines of late.  We do live in a nation steeped in history and culture, and world awash with news and information, surely the National Archives can forgive a small minority for getting the odd headline and historical fact confused?

Criticisms of the National Archives aside, the government organisation should be applauded for putting one of the most important documents in our national history online.  Academics, information professionals and researchers across the country are now freed from having to travel to London each time they need to access this seminal record.

Commissioned in 1085 by William I the Norman conquerer who won the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the Domesday Book was voted the nation's finest treasure in 2005.

Information researchers will be able to search by place names and see an index of entries by town, city or village. There's also a revenue generator in it for the National Archives, which no doubt invested heavily in the digitisation project, whereby users can purchase a copy of a page featuring the place name they are researching.

Not only should the National Archives be applauded for its commitment to digitising such an important work, but as a government body, it clearly has some commercial awareness.  History has never been so popular. In a recent discussion with Thomson Gale and universities IWR has learnt that academics and students are embracing history with vigour. The shelves of book shops continually sport new Popular History books, and they sell.  Television too is quick to adopt a trend and history continues to fill air time.  The National Archives recognises this and has done well to release such as massive project at an important time.

The biggest test now for the National Archives will be to ensure the website can sustain the pressure of millions of people logging on to visit the site and bringing it crashing down, as has plagued recent census sites.