Encyclopedias

encyclopedias “standby advice” people consult encyclopedias when they want specific facts or an overview of a subject about which they know little; an encyclopedia explains concepts and events, describes and synthesizes material, brings a summary of up-to-date knowledge to the reader; provide general complete and authoritative summaries of a subject as well as specific facts

encyclopedias representation of knowledge as stable and about to move on “an encyclopedia is nothing at all if it is not a summary statement of the traditional knowledge of the culture that has produced it” (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th ed.) establishes and legitimizes the body of stable knowledge (not built upon the avantgarde attitudes or the ‘cutting edge’ of ideas) it cannot be outdated and outmoded knowledge but must respond to change summarize and thereby compact knowledge reflects the culture that produced it at the very moment that it is published

When you need an article on a particular subject (a substantive but less than book-length source), five possibilities should occur to you: 1. An encyclopaedia article (generally written as an overview for non- specialists) 2. A journal/periodical or newspaper article 3. A ‘state of the art’ review article (generally written as a summary for specialists) 4. An essay in an anthology 5. A Web site on the topic (Thomas Mann, Library Research Models, p. 12)

encyclopedia uses and misuses Uses: (an encyclopedia article provides) an overview that outlines the most important facts on the subject and provides a concise list of recommended readings Misuses: (1) expecting an encyclopedia to be the beginning and end of a complex inquiry (2) expecting the general encyclopedia that everybody knows about to provide a level of detail found only in the specialized encyclopedias that very few people know about

finding & evaluating encyclopedias First Stop: The Master Index to Subject Encyclopedias (Oryx 1989) Guide to Reference Books (ALA) “Balay” Kister’s Best Encyclopedias (Oryx, 1994) ARBA Guide to Subject Encyclopedias and Dictionaries Encyclopedias, Atlases & Dictionaries (ed. Marion Sader and Amy Lewis, 1995) Catalog of Dictionaries, Word Books and Philological Texts, David Vancil (Greenwood, 1993) Anglo-American General Encyclopedias: A Historical Bibliography: , S. Padraig Walsh (Bowker, 1968) Catalog (LCSH): [Subject heading]--Encyclopedias [Subject heading]--[Geographical subdivision]--Encyclopedias for continuous updating: ARBA, catalogs

Types of encyclopedias Single volumes Multivolume sets Sets in which the books are issued as a series Comprehensive, national, regional, and subject encyclopedias

Types of encyclopedias comprehensive general usually multivolume work containing articles with essential information about all branches of knowledge national devoted to one nation regional cover nation or an area of the world subject all-embracing ofor the subject (multivolume sets to cover the whole field of science and technology, the art of the world, etc.)

History Diderot’s Encyclopédie (18th century) The New Encyclopedia Britannica (1768) trends since the 1970s: blurring bw trade and educational markets, splitting of large comprehensive sets into smaller comprehensive sets, spin-off of regional / country encyclopedias, creation of topical, thematic sets, growth of non-English speaking market, evolution of the electronic CD-ROM market trends in the 1990s: online and CD (EB, Compton’s Multimedia Interactive, Grolier’s electronic versions, Funk &Wagnall’s Encarta)

Evaluation of Encyclopedias 12 points to consider authority arrangement subject coverage accuracy objectivity recency quality style bibliographies illustrations physical format special attributes

Evaluation of Encyclopedias general criteria the set itself the articles themselves features of the set

Evaluation of Encyclopedias general criteria the set itself coverage and balance of the set breadth (general comprehensiveness) vs. depth (specialized material) of content old versus new balance bw major fields of humanities, social science and sci-tech revision of material

Evaluation of Encyclopedias general criteria the articles themselves coverage within entries value of information given (length varying with the importance or complexity of subject) style and method of presentation whether for fact retrieval or for more general knowledge accuracy and recency of facts, supporting illustrations, bibliographies

Evaluation of Encyclopedias general criteria the set itself the articles themselves features of the set bibliographies (further reading, extend information rather than repeat content) indexes (Propaedia -- self-education guide to the subject as displayed in the articles, prescribed course of reading, Micropaedia - factual summary and an index; fact indexes) illustrations (photographs, pictures, graphics, tables, maps)

Encyclopedia Articles ‘walking about’ in a subject (Gk) strength in description, explanation, synthesis, without detailed analysis contributed by authorities who are identified in a list of contributors must be readable and organized to display its subject in a logical, rounded manner (more system than an essay on a subject)

Encyclopedia Articles ‘walking about’ in a subject (Gk) limitations: subject not expected to cover subject exhaustively or completely accommodate readers searching for facts or identification and definition discussion moves from general to the specific or ordered under the same subheads (countries: history, demographics, etc.) typographic techniques for emphasis (boldface, indentation, headings, subheadings, boxing, backwashing of sections highlights information)

Encyclopedia Articles content and style textbook model essay model pyramid articles

Encyclopedia Articles content and style textbook model similar to textbook in format and style material easy to locate and easy to understand information arranged for students to assimilate basic facts quickly short articles preferred over long comprehensive articles numerous subjects, field of study broken into component parts short paragraphs blocked under headings with ample illustration, boxed information and data graphics writing style brief and concise, no extraneous detail few rather than many examples and examples are concrete language simplified (numerical dates replace written dates: 19th century not nineteenth century)

Encyclopedia Articles content and style essay model material less regimented subject areas less fragmented into divisions and subheadings longer prose unit with more literary style, more opportunity for discourse paragraphs not subheadings change the thought under any headings examples may be figurative as well as factual illustrations emphasize pictorial over graphical for someone who is engaged by a subject reader needs to extract particular facts (readers need intellectual or academic preparation to understand the conceptual level sentences accessible to wider audiences (jargon considered in relation to the encyclopedia’s all-round use) editorial problems: getting scholarly subject specialist to write a concise article in a style appropriate to a lay reader

Encyclopedia Articles content and style pyramid articles way of structuring material often referred to as the “pyramid” style of presentation material becomes more complex as the text progresses development from a broad general base narrowing to more difficult material

Encyclopedia Articles content and style balancing content and style is important factual and balanced coverage makes for dry reading history and science, greater emphasis on personalities and sensational events harmonizing of style with intended audience (tone of language, writing, overall impression created by articles) literature, history and scientific discovery treated differently for younger and more mature audience

Encyclopedia Articles the time factor: currency and revision new editions keeps same general format as older edition and retains still relevant information in each updated entry one volume publications more likely for new editions than multivolume print sets continuous revision publisher’s term for a partial systematic revision (in high profile subjet areas and a certain percentage of the contents; not more 10% to 20% of a set) new revised annual issue but not complete new edition

Encyclopedia Articles the time factor: currency and revision Yearbooks method of revision Yearbook or subscription magazine update easily lost if not matched to the set by binding or title and year clearly marked bulk of material is for the year previous to one indicated on spine catch-up overview articles in particular areas may systematically update the encyclopedia articles to be ‘news and features’ oriented in its approach topical, more popular and journalistic in presentation problem: retrieval of information (no indexes)

Encyclopedias: Questions Why does an encyclopedia publisher tend to avoid controversial material? In what ways may you examine the handling of controversial material and examine the evidence of bias in an encyclopedia?

Encyclopedias: Questions Are there encyclopedias in which bias is a legitimate part of the publication? If so, should they present alternate or opposing views even when promoting one view?