IdeaBank : About : Facts

Facts about IdeaBank

Q: What is IdeaBank?

A: IdeaBank is a large database of quotations, anecdotes, book and speech excerpts, proverbs, jokes, and other material that can be used to make your verbal and written communications more memorable. There is nothing else like it, either on or off the Internet.

Q: How do you access IdeaBank?

A: IdeaBank is accessed on the Internet by subscribers who pay an annual fee, using their e-mail and personal password as the key to entering our files.

Q: Who uses the service?

A: Our subscribers include professional communicators, speechwriters, government officials, educators, business executives and librarians. Subscribers also include several research libraries, among them that of The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Q: Is IdeaBank expensive?

A: No. The $200 Research Plan is a six month plan that works out to less than $1.15 per day. For long-term, or multiple, users, we have two other subscription plans. The Professional Plan is $375 for one year (and includes up to five users); and the Executive Plan is $700 for two years (and includes up to fifteen users). For more detailed information, click on the link to the right labeled "Subscribe to IdeaBank"

Q: Where does IdeaBank get its material?

A: Everywhere. We look for material in newspapers, television, books, speeches, radio, magazines and every other conceivable source. Our collection of quotation books numbers more than 1,500 volumes covering such specialized fields as advertising, environment, food, history, mathematics, medicine, philosophy, science, politics, quotes by women, quotes by ethnic minorities, law, proverbs of many nations, sports, statistics, the theater, etc.

Q: How often do you update your files?

A: We add new material almost every working day. Final choice of all editorial material going into "IdeaBank" is made by its editor, Thomas Daly IV. Tom is also the editor of Vital Speeches of the Day and has many years experience in the communications field.

Q: What is contained in your History Today file?

A: Our History Today file contains interesting events that have occurred during recorded history, and is divided for easy access into each day of the year. Thus, if you are giving a speech on, say June 15, you can call up June 15 from the files and the events of that day over the years will quickly be displayed on your screen. Often one or more of the events can be useful in making your speech more interesting.

Q: Does the History Today file have other uses?

A: Yes. For example, it contains the birthdays and mini-biographies of famous persons, both living and dead. You can also look up information such as when the frisbee was invented or when the Louisiana Purchase was made. In this way, the History Today file can serve you as almost a mini-encyclopedia.

Q: When was IdeaBank founded?

A: We were founded in 1990 by Charles Francis, a professional writer with experience in the editorial/communications world. Many of our subscribers have been with us for five or more years.