The document outlines the purpose, uses, types, evaluation, and selection strategies for encyclopedias, emphasizing their role in providing accessible information across various subjects. It covers different types of encyclopedias, including single-volume, subject-specific, and foreign-language editions, along with evaluation criteria like accuracy, objectivity, and usefulness for different audiences. Additionally, the selection process considers user needs, costs, and the format of encyclopedias, whether print or electronic.

2. Overview
• Purpose
• Uses
• Types
• Evaluation
• Selection
• Search Strategies
• Works Cited

3. Purpose of the Encyclopedia
To give a summary of multidisciplinary
knowledge in a provable, organized, and
easily accessible manner that allows
people to get the information they need on
a general level and then on a specific level
by pointing them to more detailed sources
of information. (Bopp & Smith, 433)

4. Uses of Encyclopedias
• Ready-Reference Information
– Types of questions with answers found in the
encyclopedia:
• “Where can I find a picture of a cat?”
• “What is the population size of Japan?”
• General Background Information
– This sort of information gives definitions, explains
occurrences, and gives illustrations
• “How does respiration occur?”
• “How is a book bound?”
• “Pre-research” Information
– Allows people to learn basic research skills
– Provides an introduction to the organization and
procurement of information

5. Types of Encyclopedias
• Single-Volume Encyclopedias
– Concise, factual information, often with
illustrations
– Arranged in dictionary format without an index

6. Types Cont’d.
• Encyclopedias for Children and Young
Adults
– Emphasis on format, illustrations and tools
that educate young people, thus making it
easier for children to learn how to use the
encyclopedia

7. Types Cont’d.
• Subject Encyclopedias
– Give more in-depth coverage to a specific
field of knowledge.
– Titles can give ready-reference to subjects
that are not well-represented in the overall
library collection

8. Types Cont’d.
• Encyclopedia Yearbooks and Supplements
– Yearbooks give a year in review, providing
chronological or topical reports of the events
and/or people that shaped the world in a
given year.
– Yearbooks do not act as updates; they
complement the information in the
encyclopedia
– Supplements update print and CD-ROM
encyclopedias

9. Types Cont’d.
• Foreign-Language Encyclopedias
– Provide information about a particular country
or culture.
– May appear as single or multi-volume units

10. Evaluation
Encyclopedias are published to meet the
general information needs of a particular
group. They contain lengthy
essays, compact factual discussions and a
variety of tools used to teach research
skills.
– Writing style, format, accuracy and
objectivity, currency and ease of use must be
considered during the evaluation process
(Bopp & Smith, 436)

11. Evaluation Cont’d.
• Using Review Tools
– Most widely accepted works used to review
encyclopedias
• Kister’s Best Encyclopedias: A Comparative Guide
to General and Specialized Encyclopedias
• Subject Encyclopedias
• ARBA Guide to Subject Encyclopedias and
Dictionaries

12. Evaluation Cont’d.
• Reputable journals also include reviews of
encyclopedias
– Collection development journals
• Booklist
– Reference Books Bulletin
• Choice
– Discipline-specific journals
– Trade magazines
• Reviews of electronic and online encyclopedias -
PC World, ZDNet-PC Magazine

13. Evaluating Scope
• Focus/Purpose
– Descriptions of intended
audience, scope, format of an encyclopedia
are located in the prefatory remarks
– Reviews of encyclopedias often include the
focus/purpose and may include where
emphasis is placed
• Ex. - Emphasis may be on textual or visual content

14. Evaluating Scope Cont’d.
• Subject Coverage
– Multi-volume general encyclopedias should
have coverage across all subjects with
emphasis on subjects with greater importance
• Ex. – An encyclopedia published the U.S. would
cover more subjects relevant to the United States
– Balance is key, with respect to subject
coverage
• Length and depth of articles must be considered
• Coverage and extent of current affairs should be
examined

15. Evaluating Scope Cont’d.
• Audience
– Determined by subject matter and age
• Examples:
– Encyclopedia Britannica – readers above 9th grade level
– World Book – meets reference needs of K-12
students, as well as librarians, teachers and the general
public
– International Encyclopedia of Business and Management
– focuses on adults with interest in business personally
or professionally

16. Evaluating Scope Cont’d.
• Arrangement
– Encyclopedias are most often arranged
alphabetically with cross-references and an
index
– Arrangement can be varied
• Word-by-word: San Salvador before sandman
• Letter-by-letter: sandman before San Salvador
• Bibliographies follow articles/sections within long
articles – online versions include links within the
article

17. Evaluating Scope Cont’d.
• Style
– Some encyclopedias focus
on breadth and depth, while
others focus more on brevity and coverage of
many topics
– Writing styles should be appropriate for the
target audience and should be objective

18. Evaluating Format
• Physical Format
– Looks can be deceiving
• Daunting physical format may discourage users
• Overdone packaging may conceal lack of content
• Format should appeal to target audience
– Less images as the audience gets older
– CD-ROMS and online encyclopedias allow for
more interaction and additional multimedia
enhancements
• Need to be user-friendly and have the right balance of
media and information
• Upgrades are a must for both software and hardware
• Access to the Internet is necessary for online versions

19. Evaluating Format Cont’d.
• Uniqueness
– Features that set one encyclopedia apart from
others
• Study aids
• Reading guides
• Interactivity
• Authority
– Who is responsible for the content? Is the
information source worthy?
• Contributors are specialist in their fields
• Editorial staff is responsible for maintaining guidelines
and creating/revising worthy contributions

20. Evaluating Format Cont’d.
• Accuracy and Reliability of Information
– Many encyclopedias contain errors and
misinformation that is overlooked by staff; it is
best to double check with other sources to
verify information

21. Evaluating Format Cont’d.
• Objectivity
– Initial assumptions can be made that an
encyclopedia is objective, however, one
should still further examination of prefatory
material, text and images
• Attention should be paid to what articles
include/omit, balanced coverage and use of
language
• Fair representation of both sides of an issue
should be included

22. Evaluating Format Cont’d.
• Currency
– Print versions of encyclopedias lose value
after purchase
• Multi-volume sets are expensive to produce
and revise
– Electronic versions of encyclopedias are
easier to update
• Online versions have no limitations on updates
• CD-ROMs are limited by production
schedules, cost and space constraints

23. Evaluating Format Cont’d.
• Indexing (Access)
– Whether it be via reading guides, tables of
contents, cross-references, bibliographies or
indexes, assessing the means of accessing
information is important
• Some indexes are at the end of each
volume, others are in a separate volume of their
own
• Cross-references can be internal or external
• Going between many volumes can be tiresome
and inefficient
• Electronic versions make accessing information
easier

24. Selection
Purchasing encyclopedias can be very
costly and one must decide whether to
purchase a space taking, expensive print
version, or an electronic version
– Electronic versions are used mostly by
younger users
– Older users may not be very familiar with
computers and may prefer print versions
– Choosing the correct format for users is
important

25. Selection Cont’d.
• User Needs
– Learners
• Encyclopedias provide ways to learn to
access, synthesize and analyze information
without feeling overwhelmed
• Aid learners through mini-refresher courses
– Users with General Needs
• Encyclopedias with breadth of subject provide
information quickly and easily
– Users with Scholarly or Specialized Needs
• Subject encyclopedias provide best information to
meet user needs

26. Selection Cont’d.
• Cost
– Encyclopedias are investments
– Newer versions are purchased based on the
amounts of revision work and user needs
• Impact of Format on Costs
– CD-ROMs and online versions are low cost
alternatives to print encyclopedias
• Need to maintain expensive computer hardware to
run CD-ROMs
• Online versions can be purchased for a yearly flat
fee.

27. Search Strategies
• Get to Know Your Source
– To locate information quickly and efficiently one
must know how and when to use a source
– Becoming familiar with several different
encyclopedias is important because no two are
alike
– Librarians need to receive the proper information
from a user through a reference interview in order
to find the best source for their needs
• It is important to be clear about what the information is
for
• Electronic versions of encyclopedias can be explained
to first time users

28. Thank You!
Dodd, J. (Writer). Edwards, C. (Voice Actor). (1956). Encyclopedia Specials.
[Television Series Episode]. In B. Walsh (Producer), Mickey Mouse Club.
Burbank, CA: Disney. Retrieved from:

29. Works Cited
• Crawford, H. (2001). Encyclopedias. In R.
E. Bopp, & L. C. Smith, Reference and
Information Services: An Introduction (pp.
433-459). Englewood, CO: Libraries
Unlimited.