2. The World Book Encyclopedia
The World Book Encyclopedia is in the business of
helping families, schools, and libraries across the world
discover content that is trustworthy and readable.
It presents information in the most accessible and
usable form.
It aims to meet the reference and study needs of
students, librarians, and the general public.
It is a tool for learning with general information about
people, places, things, events, and ideas.
3. History
World Book, Inc. was founded in 1915
World Book was first published in 1917 as an 8-volume
set.
It has expanded over the years and now has 22
volumes which includes an index.
It is updated and reprinted each year.
4. Authority
Since its first publication, World Book has been a
leader in providing research materials.
It has set standards for supplying accuracy, reliability,
and objectivity in those materials.
A panel of experts, scholars, and consultants in major
academic fields such as biological sciences,
humanities, physical science, and social science are
involved in the planning, production, and ongoing
evaluation.
It is the combined expertise of 4,000 individuals.
5. Selection of Contents
A program of research and evaluation offers editors the
data required to help make decisions on the contents.
Periodic curriculum studies provide information on the
topics studied in school systems from kindergarten to
high school.
An analysis of curriculum guides, national and state
standards, and textbooks supply information on current
and new school topics.
6. Access
Users can find World Book in the Reference Section of
the library.
It is for in-library use only.
7. Arrangement
World Book is organized for the user to quickly find the
information they are seeking.
All articles are alphabetically arranged, volume by volume
and subject by subject.
Volumes are arranged by letter.
All entries that begin with the letter “A” are found in Volume A
and so on.
In some cases, entries that start with two or more consecutive
letters are arranged in one volume.
In two instances, letters “C” and “S”, a single volume is not
large enough to accommodate all the articles with the same
letter.
8. Fourfold Plan for Major
Articles
The plan brings together four basic elements: an outline, a
complete story, visual aids, and related articles.
An outline gives readers an overall view of the article and
shows the interrelationship of its units.
The complete story gives readers a solid foundation of
information about a subject.
A wide variety of visual aids clarifies meaning and reinforces
learning. Photographs, drawings, paintings, maps, diagrams,
charts, and graphs give life to information.
A list of related World Book articles encourages readers to
broaden their study of a subject.
9. How to Use World Book
World Book provides users with a how-to guide in the Preface
found in Volume A, pages VIII-X.
Below are tips World Book supplies to find information in the
entries.
Word-by-word arrangement
In the alphabetical system used in World Book, semicolons and then
spaces precede letters of the alphabet.
A few different examples:
Man; Isle of Man; Managua.
New York; Newark.
Delacroix, Eugene; De la Roche, Mazo; Delaware; De la Warr, Lord;
Delegate.
Antidote; Anti-Federalists; Antifreeze.
Mary; Mary I; Mary II; Mary, Queen of Scots; Mary Magdalene.
10. How to Use World Book
(cont’d)
Guide words
At the top of each page is a guide word. These are there to
help users quickly locate an entry.
Entry-cross references
They appear in bold and are included in the alphabetical
arrangement.
Some provide the titles of topics that can be found in the set
under other names.
The entry directs the user to the place where the most specific
information is located on the topic.
Other entry-cross references tell the user what section of an
article to find information.
11. How to Use World Book
(cont’d)
Cross-references within the text
These “see” and “see also” cross-references are within and
after the text.
They direct users to particular maps, charts, pictures, or articles
for additional information on the material that was just read.
Article headings
Articles are divided into sections and subsections with their own
headings.
Captions
The illustrations have captions that give information to clarify or
add to the information in the article.
12. Example Search
To find “Italy” in World Book, a user must first locate the
correct volume.
“Italy” is located in Volume 10 “I”
13. This is the page a user would find for “Italy” in World Book.
14. Guide wordGuide word
Guide word
Caption
Cross-reference
Article heading
Finding information is easy within the entry using the tips
supplied by World Book.
15. Special Features
Pronunciation key
World Book provides pronunciation for unusual or unfamiliar
words.
The words are divided into syllables and respelled to show how
each syllable sounds.
Illustrations and maps
These are supplements to the article.
Research aids
These are included to assist the user to search within World Book
and to facilitate finding information outside of it.
A guide to writing, speaking, and research skills
This feature is used to help students on an oral or written report.
17. Further Questions
If there are questions about this resource as you
familiarize yourself with it and recommend it to
students, please contact the head librarian.
