Custom Search
Group Evaluations
[Listings followed by NF indicate my work]
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The Cambridge Encyclopedia
Collier’s Encyclopedia
The Columbia Encyclopedia
The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia
Compton’s Encyclopedia and Fact-Index
Encyclopedia Americana
Grolier Online
Kister's Best Encyclopedias: A Comparative Guide to General and Specialized Encyclopedias
Subject Encyclopedias: User Guide, Review Citations, and Keyword Index
Microsoft Encarta Online
New Encyclopaedia Britannica (NF)
Britannica Online (NF)
The Random House Encyclopedia (NF)
World Book Online (NF)
Note: Entries marked (NF) are resources I evaluated.
Encyclopedias
The Cambridge Encyclopedia
Citation
The Cambridge encyclopedia. (3rd ed). (1997). New York: Cambridge University Press
General Information
Cambridge University Press published this encyclopedia in 1997. They are the oldest continuously publishing book publisher, and widely respected.
Scope
This encyclopedia provides covers information from people and places to scientific concepts, media, philosophical ideas, and international issues. It has over 25,000 fairly short entries, and claims to be broader than previous editions, with more information key areas such as agriculture, astronomy, and genetics.
Emphasis
This encyclopedia is intended for high school age to adults.
Authority
A team of international contributors from all over the world assembled it. The editor is David Crystal, who has written or edited over 100 books, many on reference.
Writing Style
Writing appears clear and easy to follow. Younger students would be able to understand for the most part, but some larger, more complex words make this encyclopedia more appropriate for high school students or older users.
Recency
The copyright date is 1997. This edition promises revised dates for latest discoveries, sports events and records, and death dates since its last edition.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
Entries appear to be written without bias.
Arrangement and Entry
This encyclopedia contains: How to Use The Cambridge Encyclopedia, Atlas section, A-Z section, Ready Reference Section, and Consultants and contributors section. Entries are arranged alphabetically, and may contain pronunciations, description or brief summary, dates of birth to death, and examples. There are also about 75,000 cross-references, and over 800 illustrations and maps.
Index
There is no index provided.
Format
This is a single hardcover volume without a glossary or dictionary.
Cost
$60
Collier’s Encyclopedia
Citation
Collier’s encyclopedia. (1997). New York: Collier’s.
General Information
This book is published by Collier Books, who have now merged with MacMillian Inc.
Scope
This encyclopedia has 23,000 entries, focusing on practical subjects such as earth science, physical science, and social sciences. It provides a number of illustrations, many of which are in color.
Emphasis
This encyclopedia was written for adults and older students, and does not seem to have an American bias.
Authority
Entries have been written by Collier’s in-house staff and over 4,000 respected academic specialists from universities in the United States and Great Britain. Their authors have signed articles.
Writing Style
Entries offer clear, comprehensive coverage, to be easily understood by their intended audience.
Recency
This encyclopedia was published in 1997, and was followed by its annual Collier’s Yearbook to provide any additional information on events occurring since previous publication.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
Articles appear to be written in an unbiased manner.
Arrangement and Entry
Entries are arranged alphabetically in a letter-by-letter manner. The last volume contains the bibliography and index with over 450,000 entries.
Index
The index contains over 450,000 entries, which are arranged letter-by-letter alphabetically.
Format
24 hardcover volumes
Cost
This encyclopedia is out of print, and prices vary. Currently being offered on eBay for prices from $40 to $1200.
The Columbia Encyclopedia
Citation
Columbia encyclopedia. (6th ed). (2007). New York: Columbia University Press.
Retrieved April 7th, 2009 from http://www.bartleby.com/65
General Information
Bartleby.com hosts the 6th edition of the Columbia Encyclopedia, among online versions of a number of other well-known reference tools. Since 1993, they have been offering reliable and up-to-date reference online for free.
Scope
Articles can be a few sentences to as long as page. There are over 51,000 entries on a variety of subjects.
Emphasis
It appears to be written for all audiences, from junior-high and older.
Authority
There are a number of contributors listed under the staff section. The editor Paul Lagassé is not well known, and has been an editor and writer since only 2001.
Writing Style
The writing style is clear and easy to follow
Recency
This is based on an encyclopedia published in 2007. I could find any information saying when if it has been updated since then. However, I did a search and found 60 results for ‘George W. Bush’ and none for ‘Barack Obama.’
Viewpoint and Objectivity
Articles appear objective, showing no sign of bias.
Arrangement and Entry
This site offers features such as: Guide, Pronunciation Key, Abbreviations, and Bibliographic Record. There are over 80,000 cross-references. Bibliographies follow many of the articles
Index
There is a browseable alphabetical index.
Format
Online encyclopedia (also available in print as two volume set)
Cost
Free
The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia
Citation
http://www.encyclopedia.com
General Information
This encyclopedia is offered free as part of an online encyclopedia at www.encyclopedia.com. It is owned and operated by High Beam Research, named the “Best Online Reference Service” by the CODiE Awards, a yearly award issued by the Software and Information Industry Association for excellence in software development.
Scope
This site offers approximately 200,000 articles, some of which come from the 6th edition of The Columbia Encyclopedia. (2000)
Emphasis
The audience is students, educators, and the general public.
Authority
Inconsistent. Some articles list the authors; others do not. Some give bibliographies; others do not.
Writing Style
The writing level seems appropriate to the intended audiences.
Recency
It seems to use older editions of well-known encyclopedias, therefore the recency is questionable.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
Looked up abortion. It gave some technical facts and some history, especially US history. Tried to remain neutral.
Arrangement and Entry
Since it is an online resource, there is no alphabetic arrangement. They do provide links to related articles, however, similar to a Google search, not all of these articles are directly related to the actual subject, and some just have similar search terms. I found this disappointing. There should be a way to fix this.
Index
No index as it is an online resource. The search box does not offer an advanced feature.
Format
Offers citations for each article in a variety of styles including APA. Also, when I looked up the country Chad, it offered me a side-by-side comparison of articles from three of the encyclopedias included in its database – Columbia, Dictionary of World History, and Dictionary of Contemporary World History. This I think is an excellent feature.
It mentions that it includes links to related newspaper and magazine articles, which it does, however; once again some of the links are not directly related to the subject, they just have the same keyword. I think I prefer Bartleby to Encyclodpedia.com. The main reason is on Bartleby, the related article suggestions are actually related to the original topic. On Encyclopedia.com related articles are like keyword searches on Google. Anything with that search term will come up. And Encyclopedia.com’s load time seems to be slower due to the overwhelming amount of ads that come up. Bartleby also uses the 6th edition of The Columbia Encyclopedia.
Cost
Free. However, because it is a free Internet resource, the user is constantly bombarded with ads.
Compton’s Encyclopedia and Fact-Index
Citation
Encyclopaedia Britannica, inc. (2004). Compton's encyclopedia & fact-index. Chicago:
Encyclopaedia Britannica.
General Information
Originally published in 1922. It has gone through several publisher changes over the years, and is currently being published by Encyclopedia Britannica. An electronic version of Compton’s Encyclopedia has been available on CD-ROM and DVD-ROM since 1992. Encyclopedia Britannica in its Encyclopedia Britannica Online has incorporated Compton’s Interactive encyclopedia into its database.
Scope
Over 37,000 articles including pictures, diagrams, tables, and maps. Content keyed to National Curriculum Standards and benchmarks.
Emphasis
Designed for students ages 10 – 17.
Authority
It is reviewed and updated by educators, expert contributors, and Britannica’s editors.
Writing Style
Writing style is clear and written in a pyramid style meaning it gives basic facts at the beginning of articles and then gets more detailed as it goes on. The articles are appropriate to the age group it is aimed at and is one of the most popular encyclopedias for this age group.
Recency
Frequently updated so currency is good.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
Presents articles objectively.
Arrangement and Entry
Alphabetic by subject.
Index
The 26th volume is a mini-encyclopedia called Fact-Index with more than 29,800 short articles, as well as a standard index. The editors advise readers to start with the Fact-Index first as some information on the subject is only found there. It then points you to the full-length article within the main encyclopedia. It is important to note that the articles in the Fact-Index are not indexed in the general index.
Format
The 2008 print edition is in 26 volumes. There are 23,000 maps, charts, tables, and images within 11,000 pages. Also includes some timelines and tables of contents in longer articles.
Cost
The 2008 edition was $750
Encyclopedia Americana
Citation
Scholastic Library Publishing. (2006). Encyclopedia Americana. Danbury, Conn:
Scholastic Library Pub.
General Information
Encyclopedia Americana is now published by Scholastic, which is well known for publishing educational materials. The first Encyclopedia Americana was published in 1829. I reviewed the 2006 edition.
Scope
It is a general encyclopedia geared to middle school and high school students as well as first-year college students along with public library users.
Emphasis
It is international in scope, but known for its detailed coverage of American and Canadian geography and history. It is also strong in biography, scientific and technical subjects. All major articles are signed, many by scholars well known in their fields.
Authority
Each article is signed and the author’s credentials are given as well. Some articles also have bibliographies.
Writing Style
The writing is clear and concise, but can get technical for complicated subjects.
Recency
Copyright date of set reviewed was 2006. It is published annually so it is updated regularly. However it has been criticized for being slow to include important current events in the print version.
Viewpoint and Objectivity
It seems to give a balanced viewpoint on controversial subjects. I read the section on abortion and it presented the history of it worldwide with a special section for the U.S.
Arrangement and Entry
The articles are arranged alphabetically, word by word. There are cross-references to related topics in the index. Some of the longer articles have a table of contents.
Index
The index is contained in a separate volume and uses a letter-by-letter alphabetic arrangement. I found it odd that the article arrangement and the index arrangement should be different. I feel it would be better if they were the same – either letter-by-letter or word-by-word. The preface recommends starting with the index when searching for a subject.
Format
I looked at a print version. It contained 30 volumes. There is also an online version available through Grolier.
Cost
$700.00
Grolier Online
Citation
http:://gogrolier.com
General Information
Published by Scholastic Library Publishing
Scope
Provides access to two learning environments, eight curriculum-aligned databases and over 500,000 links to academically-relevant articles, Web sites and periodicals
Emphasis
Caters to two age appropriate learning environments, Grolier Kids and Grolier Online Passport
Authority
Articles are written by experts in the field, including scientists, professors, authors, and historians. Each article is cited, so a student can learn more about the contributor.
Writing Style
The language is age appropriate for younger students (grades 2-5 for Grolier kids and Grade 6 and above for Grolier online passport), and provides access to thousands of editor approved websites and periodicals.
Recency
An editorial staff continually reviews articles, Web links, and resources and updates them based on current events and recent developments in the world.
Viewpoint and objectivity
Grolier mentions many times that all of their articles and websites are edited and safe for children. When I searched abortion I was brought to a site for teachers.
Arrangement and Entry
You can search by clicking on different types of encyclopedias or there is a fast search or an advanced search
Format
There is a tutorial to explore Grolier online as well as a help tab
Cost
There is a 30-day free trial available; pricing depends on the number of sites used.
Kister's Best Encyclopedias: A Comparative Guide to General and Specialized Encyclopedias
Citation
Kister, Kenneth F. Kister's Best Encyclopedias: A Comparative Guide to General and
Specialized Encyclopedias. 2d ed. Phoenix, Ariz.: Oryx Press, 1994.
General Information
Published by The Oryx Press 1994
Scope
The articles review and evaluate all types of encyclopedias so people can compare and decide which type of encyclopedia suits their needs.
Emphasis
To help any consumer in the US and Canada Distinguish good encyclopedias from bad ones.
Authority
The author of the book wrote the reviews of the encyclopedias.
Writing Style
The language is clear and concise; one of the reviews that I read quoted a review of an encyclopedia containing “a great deal of nonsense”
Recency
1994
Viewpoint and objectivity
I could not find any controversial subjects
Arrangement and Entry
Broken down by types of encyclopedias such as large sized, medium sized, etc. Sub categories are in alphabetical order
Index
The index is in alphabetical order word by word
Format
There is no glossary or dictionary, but there is a directory of encyclopedia publishers and distributors
Cost
Available used at Amazon.com from $38 to $.01
Subject Encyclopedias: User Guide, Review Citations, and Keyword Index
Citation
Mirwis, Allan. Subject Encyclopedias: User Guide, Review Citations, and Keyword Index. 2 vols. Phoenix, Ariz.: Oryx Press, 1999.
General Information
Published by The Oryx Press 1999
Scope
Contains 1,129 specialized encyclopedias. All encyclopedias must be published in the English language
Emphasis
Geared toward high school and college students as well as adults to make subject encyclopedias more accessible.
Authority
No articles, just a list of Encyclopedias that pertain to certain subject areas.
Recency
1999
Viewpoint and objectivity
Controversial issues were referenced. There were 25 encyclopedias suggested for abortion as well as abortion counseling, laws and rights
Arrangement and Entry
Alphabetical word by word
Index
There is an index is both volumes which is alphabetical word by word
Format
There is a 5-page explanation on how to use the guide as well as a keyword index
Cost
Available new at Amazon.com for $187.95
Microsoft Encarta Online
Citation
http://encarta.msn.com/
General Information
Published by Microsoft 2008
Scope
Contains more than 42,000 articles that cover topics to any specific group.
Emphasis
The intended for all audiences ranging form k-12, college and grad students.
Authority
Some articles are signed, with the remainder compiled by the editors.
Writing Style
The language is clear and concise, I looked up quantum theory and the language was appropriate for the target audience, which means that I could understand it.
Recency
2008.
Viewpoint and objectivity
When I looked up abortion, the article did not take one side or the other but talked about both arguments for and against.
Arrangement and Entry
You can search by popular categories, which have sub categories in alphabetical order. You can also search by keyword.
Index
Broken down by encyclopedia articles, sidebars which have Historic documents, famous speeches, literary excerpts, literature guides which contain Perspectives on authors, characters, and themes of renowned works of literature, archives which are a Year-by-year wrap-up of important events from 1938 to 1999 and homework starters which help people Get going on papers, presentations, and more with step-by-step guides
Format
Some special features include sidebars, literature guides and homework starters
Cost
Free online
New Encyclopaedia Britannica | NF
Citation
The New Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2003). Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica.
General Information
Published in Chicago by Encyclopaedia Britannica. This 15th edition was published in 2003.
Scope
This 15th edition contains over 65,000 articles from over 4,000 contributors.
Emphasis
This encyclopaedia is geared toward secondary level and higher. It is not intended for elementary or middle school students. The emphasis of the Micropaedia is for the "reader who wishes to browse among the countless subjects in all fields of human learning..."
Authority
First published in 1768, Britannica is one of the oldest and most well respected encyclopedias. Nobel Prize winners, expert authors and curators, in addition to established experts in nearly every field covered, write articles.
Writing Style
The writing style is clearly written yet detailed as the intended audience is high school age and above.
Recency
There is a new edition published yearly in addition to Annual Yearbooks to supplement older editions.
Viewpoint and objectivity
The Britannica is one of the most well respected encyclopaedias due to the breadth and depth of coverage.
Arrangement and Entry
This 32-volume set has three distinct divisions; Volumes 1 - 12 comprise the Micropeaedia. Included in these volumes are tens of thousands of shorter articles of specific persons, places, things, and ideas in alphabetical order. This Micropaedia can be viewed independently or as a support to the Macropaedia volumes. The entry titles are inverted to place the substantive word in the beginning, i.e. Bank of England = England, Bank of. There is considerable cross-referencing to less familiar names, and links among the Micro, Macro, and Propaedia. The Propaedia includes information generally listed in the preliminary pages as well as outlines of knowledge. Frequently, there are bibliographies at the end of the article directing the reader to additional information.
Index
The index is contained in two separate volumes. The hallmark of the index is the Propaedia, organized as 'outlines of knowledge'. It follows the orderly topical outline of the whole of human knowledge. Instead of organizing the Table of Contents into alphabetical order, the contents are arranged into ten knowledge areas. Also included in the index are contributors listed alphabetically by initials and full name.
Format
The format feature that sets the New Encyclopaedia Britannica apart from all other encyclopedias is the structure of the Propaedia's Outlines of Knowledge. These were conceived as a 'circle of learning' and have organized all the world's knowledge into 10 areas beginning with Matter and Energy, continuing with The Earth and Human Life, among others, and ending with The Branches of Knowledge. These were written before the articles were named, contributors commissioned to write, or articles even written. It is often referred to as a 'table of intent' as it became the basis for what articles would be written as well as defining their scope.
Cost
The complete set before Institutional discounts is $1,400.
Britannica Online | NF
Citation
http://www.eb.com/180
General Information
Created and published by Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Scope
The online version of the Britannica Encyclopedia contains over 122,264 articles. There are articles from 400+ magazines and journals as well as thousands of images and videos.
Emphasis
This online encyclopedia is geared for high school, college age and above. There is also an online student edition designed for students 8 - 15 as well as an online school edition for libraries.
Authority
First published in 1768, Britannica is one of the oldest and most well respected encyclopedias. Nobel Prize winners, expert authors and curators, in addition to established experts in nearly every field covered, write articles.
Recency
This online version is updated on a regular basis to ensure currency.
Viewpoint and objectivity
In searching for information on AIDS, a search help box appeared to clarify that I was looking for information on the disease and not another form of aid. The information was clearly and objectively written without editorial bias.
Arrangement and Entry
Articles are searchable across subject, title, contributor as well as many advanced search functions. Entries are clear and well written, with images embedded in the text with links as well as links within the text for cross-referencing. In the right sidebar the outline for the article is listed as well as any graphical information. There are functions to save, print, email or change the font size at the upper right of the article. There are citations listed for the article, external websites and a bibliography of additional readings
Index
The interface is clean and classic, with few 'bells and whistles' a hallmark of Encyclopedia Britannica who still uses their original thistle logo.
Format
There are many value added resources as with many online databases. A unique function is a widget and gadget option to add content to your website. In the far right sidebar, there is information on additional content, contributors with links to their authority as well as audio/video content.
Cost
Individual subscriptions start at $69.95/year for a Premium Membership. Pricing for schools and universities is on an individual quote basis.
The Random House Encyclopedia | NF
Citation
Mitchell, J. (1990). The Random House encyclopedia. New York: Random House.
General Information
Published by Random House Reference.
Scope
This third edition of the one volume encyclopedia includes 13,500 illustrations, 11,325 in full-color and three million words of text.
Emphasis
Although it states it is a reference tool, the arrangement of the two sections, the Colorpedia and the Alphapedia make it cumbersome to use as a ready reference tool. With the emphasis on the illustrations, this makes for a good browsing encyclopedia.
Authority
Random House is a well-respected reference imprint.
Recency
This volume is almost twenty years old. Given that it briefly covered AIDS and other controversial topics in this edition, a library would be advised to check the viewpoint and objectivity of this reference tool before adding to their collection.
Viewpoint and objectivity
Although this is a recent edition, very few changes were made from the second edition in 1980 to the present one. In terms of addressing current issues, this encyclopedia had an extremely small article on AIDS, 65 words to be exact. It also dealt briefly with global warming and the ozone layer weighing in with even fewer.
Arrangement and Entry
This encyclopedia is divided into two distinct sections; the Colorpedia comprises two thirds of the volume, with 13,500 illustrations. The Alphapedia is a scant 900 pages and gives cursory treatment of most topics. It appears the most useful as an index to the rich illustrations.
Index
The best index for this encyclopedia is the Alphapedia section, which cross-references the entries in the Colorpedia.
Format
Special features are the rich full-color illustrations of 11,325 entries that are cross-referenced with the written entries in the Alphapedia.
Cost
$70.00
World Book Online | NF
Citation
http://www.worldbookonline.com.
General Information
Published by World Book, Inc an industry leader in reference tools.
Scope
World Book Online has three distinct general encyclopedias, the Advanced, the Student Discovery, and the Kids version. In addition to these, there are also subject encyclopedias including a new beginner level French language encyclopedia. They offer eBooks and have an impressive research component.
Emphasis
The three versions are geared to provide a smooth interface for the reference needs of K - 12 students.
Authority
World Book has been the industry standard for research materials for both children and adults since 1917. They are a leader in the industry with their award winning print encyclopedia and digital materials.
Recency
World Book Online updates all of its digital resources on a daily basis.
Viewpoint and objectivity
The Advanced and Student Discovery version retrieved 29 entries for AIDS, including primary source documents covering the topic thoroughly and objectively. The Kids version has one article, which was well written and handled this topic in an age-appropriate manner.
Arrangement and Entry
Each of the three versions is geared toward the targeted age group in the appearance and ease of use. The Kids version has content from the Student Discovery Encyclopedia with a simpler navigation system. It is easier to use and has thousands of colorful illustrations, diagrams, and maps. The Student Discovery is a step up, but continues with the colorful interface while recognizing the increased sophistication of this age group. There is a featured video on the interface, with links to news, favorite articles, a biography center, and research tools. The Advanced version is geared for students in grades 8 - 12 and higher. It pulls together primary and secondary source databases through a single source, in addition to offering eBooks, primary source documents, images and research tools.
Index
Each of the three interfaces is designed to be user friendly while displaying the multitude of information available. The Kids version is bright and colorful and appealing to this age group. The Student Discovery version has abridged versions of the Advanced articles, yet is still presented in a colorful, youthful manner. The Advanced version offers a link to your most viewed articles, a link to primary sources, eBooks, and an In the Headlines link. There is a link to ready reference tools such as dictionaries and atlases and a Create and Share section with a citation builder as well as timelines.
Format
This online version offers a wealth of information and tools to encourage the development of information literacy and scholarly research skills. Each version has a function that allows the user to create an account and save and organize information accessed for future reference.
Cost
Cost is based on the size of the school and can be purchased bundled together with their print encyclopedia.