Encyclopedias cover many topics and are an excellent source to gather background information. They cover important people, places, events, things, and ideas and often have photographs, drawings, charts, timelines, and maps. Encyclopedias are collections of short, factual entries often written by different contributors who are knowledgeable about the topic. Therefore, encyclopedias are reliable sources of information because they have been edited by experts in various fields.
There are two types of encyclopedias: general and specialized subject encyclopedias. General encyclopedias, such as World Book, provide concise overviews on a wide variety of topics. Specialized subject encyclopedias contain in-depth entries focusing on one field of study. For example, there can be an encyclopedia about animals or one about U.S. history.
When do I use a general encyclopedia?
Use a general encyclopedia when you need the following:
- background information on a topic
- key ideas, important dates, or concepts
Where do I find a general encyclopedia?
An encyclopedia can be in print, online, or both. In print, it can be a single book or multiple volumes. Typically encyclopedias are found either in a separate area or in the reference section with a call number of 030.
How is a general encyclopedia organized?
An encyclopedia is typically arranged alphabetically by subject.
How do I use a print general encyclopedia?
To find information, look for it alphabetically by subject or consult the index in the back of the volume or the master index for the set.
How do I use an online general encyclopedia?
Online general encyclopedias may be exact replicas of the equivalent print book, while some are published exclusively online. Online general encyclopedias often have a searchable index, or a typical index that links automatically to the page indicated. Online encyclopedias are also typically searchable by either keyword or subject.
Unlike traditional encyclopedias, some online encyclopedias, such as Wikipedia, can be edited by anyone. Therefore, information should be verified.
How do I use a database to find a general encyclopedia?
Searching a database by topic will result in sources from magazines, journals, newspapers, eBooks, and more. Most databases' advanced search feature allows your search to be limited by the type of source you are looking for. You can also limit your source by date of article or by a specific encyclopedia.
FAQs
An encyclopedia (American English) or encyclopaedia (British English) is a reference work or compendium providing summaries of knowledge, either general or special, in a particular field or discipline.
Do encyclopedia books still exist? ›
World Book was first published in 1917. Since 1925, a new edition of the encyclopedia has been published annually. Although published online in digital form for a number of years, World Book is currently the only American encyclopedia which also still provides a print edition.
What are the 4 types of encyclopedias? ›
There are different types of encyclopedias. Mainly they are divided into four types, namely Dictionaries, Comprehensive Encyclopaedia or Vishwakosh, Encyclopaedic literature or Koshsadrush and Indexes.
What is an encyclopedia used for? ›
Encyclopedias are most often used as a starting point for further research. Their entries provide a general overview of a topic and usually include citations to other works (articles, books, websites, etc.) for the reader to use for expanding the depth of their exploration into a topic.
Can you still buy paper encyclopedias? ›
More than a decade after EB's demise, there is still one encyclopedia set being published: World Book.
Has anyone read the entire encyclopedia? ›
He then went on to read the entire 14th edition, spending on average three hours per night. Biographer Ashlee Vance claims Elon Musk read the Encyclopædia Britannica twice. Bill Gates read the entire World Book Encyclopedia in his youth.
What are the two best known legal encyclopedias? ›
The two major legal encyclopedias on US law are American Jurisprudence (Am. Jur.) 2d (available on NexisUni and Westlaw) and Corpus Juris Secundum (CJS) (available on Westlaw). Additionally, many (but not all) states have a legal encyclopedia focusing exclusively on the laws of that state.
What is the oldest set of encyclopedias? ›
The earliest encyclopedic work to have survived to modern times is the Naturalis Historia of Pliny the Elder, a Roman statesman living in the 1st century AD. He compiled a work of 37 chapters covering natural history, architecture, medicine, geography, geology, and all aspects of the world around him.
Is Britannica an encyclopedia? ›
As the Britannica is a general encyclopaedia, it does not seek to compete with specialized encyclopaedias such as the Encyclopaedia of Mathematics or the Dictionary of the Middle Ages, which can devote much more space to their chosen topics.
What is the most accurate encyclopedia in the world? ›
Britannica's content is among the most trusted in the world. Every article is written, and continually fact-checked, by our experts.
The Internet has rendered vintage encyclopedias obsolete and today the value is primarily from people looking to have a set similar to the one that they grew up with. A complete 1967 white britannica encyclopedia sells for $50 or so at auction and for $120 to $150 from antique book dealers.
Do people still use encyclopedias? ›
Today, up-to-date information flows freely thanks to the Internet. It's only a Google search away. Many people rely on Wikipedia, which is a nonprofit collaborative resource, for reference purposes. Despite that, some people and organizations apparently still buy paper encyclopedias.
Why can't you use an encyclopedia as a source? ›
Undergraduates are rarely permitted to cite encyclopedia articles. Ask your professor if you plan to do so. The reason for this prohibition has to do with the function of reference works. Encyclopedias are best suited to providing background information rather than in-depth analysis or novel perspective.
What are the disadvantages of encyclopedias? ›
In addition, the main disadvantages of electronic encyclopedias include dependence on information technology, high initial cost, quality control, and citation.
When did they stop making encyclopedias? ›
In March 2012, Britannica's president, Jorge Cauz, announced that it would not produce any new print editions of the encyclopaedia, with the 2010 15th edition being the last.
Are encyclopedias obsolete? ›
The traditional encyclopedia survives as a reference resource due to criticism of open source Wikipedia by historians and academic librarians. While the structure of Wikipedia allows for infinite updates to our expanding, shifting knowledge base, the traditional encyclopedia has value as a historical document.
Are encyclopedias worth anything today? ›
The Internet has rendered vintage encyclopedias obsolete and today the value is primarily from people looking to have a set similar to the one that they grew up with. A complete 1967 white britannica encyclopedia sells for $50 or so at auction and for $120 to $150 from antique book dealers.
Who buys old sets of encyclopedias? ›
Recycling encyclopedias
Call your local library and ask if you may donate your set to be sold. Put it up for giveaway on freecycle.org. If they're really old -- say, more than 100 years -- call a rare bookseller and ask if they're worth anything. Find out if a local recycler takes them.
