The Spotlight features are available free of charge to nonsubscribers. During the several weeks that BOL was examined, changes kept occurring. New articles appear to be added at regular intervals. There is a file describing what is new and what has been added in recent online versions. As well as making available a wealth of information, this is an aesthetically pleasing site with a clarity and elegance other sites could well emulate.
Page layout is consistent, with navigational and identification information easily found and used.
The database can be searched in a number of different ways. Search terms can be words, phrases, or questions. An enhanced search, which can be bookmarked, allows the user to select how searches will be sorted. This Browse A-Z Lists feature is new to the September 1997 release, as is a site map that provides the same search options in a different format. Other new features include a new search page and new navigation bars at the top of each page.