The 2012 edition of the World Book Encyclopedia marks 95 years of publication, continuing to fill a crucial role in providing reliable information amid a 'technology gap'. This edition features over 4,400 pages of content, with substantial revisions and new articles across various subjects, targeting youth and young adults while maintaining a level of depth. With contributions from 4,000 experts, it aims to be a trusted reference amidst advancements in electronic information.

1. Introducing the 2012 edition of
The World Book Encyclopedia

2. Coming up on 95 years and still going
strong!
World Book was
first published in
1917.

3. We’re the only encyclopedia still publishing a yearly
edition! We’ve outlasted most of the competition.
Print encyclopedias are
still important. A
“technology gap” limits
access to reliable,
understandable
information in many
places in this country and
elsewhere in the world.
Our annual edition helps
to bridge that gap.

4. What one reviewer said:
While many among us are in thrall of the latest whiz-bang electronic information-
retrieval technology, there is still a place in the reference pantheon for a staid but
reliable general subject encyclopedia. World Book meets that definition with its
variety of venerable facets. Youth to young adults are the target demographic, but
this should not be construed as dumbed down—it is simplified without being
simpleminded.... Bottom Line: World Book’s eminent history and [its] features …
make this a best bet ....
Bemis, Michael F., “Encyclopedia Reconsidered,” Library Journal. June 15, 2011. 120. Print.

5. The foundation of our authority is our 4,000
expert contributors.
Howard Bluestein
Jack Hanna
Professor of Meteorology
Director, Columbus Zoo
University of Oklahoma
Contributor of “Zoo”
Contributor of “Tornado”

6. After the contributors write their articles, our
talented editors get to work.
The editors of
the science
team
The editors
of the The editors
regions team of the humanities team

7. Highlights of the 2012 edition

8. The 2012 edition at a glance
• More than 4,400 pages
revised (over 30%)
• At least 3,000 revised
articles
• More than 100 new articles
• About 230 new or revised
maps
• More than 250 new or
revised photos or
illustrations

9. Among the long articles revised for
2012:
• Bible
• Canada
• Clothing
• Immune system
• Internet
• Map
• Nuclear energy
• Snake
• Tornado
• Zoo

10. Bible

12. B

13. Tornado

14. Canada the Beautiful

15. Canada’s scenic wonders

16. Its striking architecture

17. Internet

18. New articles (and a few
revised articles) from the
2012 edition

19. Crimestoppers textbook
• DNA fingerprinting (revised)
• Fingerprinting (revised)
• Forensic pathology (new)
• Medical examiner (revised)

20. M i c arti cl es
us
• Beyoncé
• Céline Dion
• Robert Johnson
• Nirvana
• Disco music
• Gospel music
• Punk rock

21. Sports and general interest
• Lucha libre
• Quinceañera
• Rafael
• Catherine,
Duchess of
Nadal Cambridge

22. Children’s authors
• Avi
• Stephenie Meyer
• Christopher Paolini

23. Shark attack!
• Basking shark
• Blue shark
• Bull shark
• Lemon shark
• Mako shark
• Nurse shark

24. Other marine animals
• Anglerfish
• Beluga whale
• Ichthyosaur
• Leopard seal

25. Reptiles and amphibians
• Bearded dragon
• Coqui
• Leopard frog

26. Still more animals
• Clouded
leopard
• King
penguin
• Naked
mole-rat
• Snow
monkey

27. From the world of high-tech
• Facebook
• Portable media player
• Software
• Text messaging
• Web browser
• Mark Zuckerberg

28. Health and medicine
• Dementia
• Hoarding
• Lactose
intolerance
• Oxycodone
• Seasonal
affective
disorder

29. Military articles
• Improvised explosive
device
• Navy SEALs

30. Something from the oven
• Pie
• Cake

31. Environmental science • Carbon cycle
(new)
• Carbon footprint
(new)
• Greenhouse effect
(revised)
• Ice storm (new)
• Oil spill (new)

32. The world’s newest country
• South Sudan
• Juba

33. The 2010 U.S. Census
• Complete results from the
2010 United States census
appear in the 2012 edition.
• We made approximately 1,000
revisions to population figures
throughout World Book.

34. The 2010 U.S. census
For all censuses since 1970,
the Census Bureau has
mailed out lists of questions
and asked the public to
complete them and mail
them back.

35. As in the past, census enumerators visited the addresses for which no
questionnaire had been returned.
1930 2010
1890