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1 – 10 of over 21000Purpose – ‐‐ The purpose of this paper is to examine and evaluate five open access state encyclopedias.Design/methodology/approach ‐‐ Each encyclopedia is discussed and evaluated…
Abstract
Purpose – ‐‐ The purpose of this paper is to examine and evaluate five open access state encyclopedias.Design/methodology/approach ‐‐ Each encyclopedia is discussed and evaluated separately in regard to the following categories: web design, search functionality, features, scope, and currency.Findings ‐‐ The paper finds that, while many of the evaluated state encyclopedias provide different types of information with varying web design and structure, the end product is the same: offering free, authoritative articles and other media for anyone to access on a given topic related to the selected state. While some encyclopedias are continuously updated with new material and have better interfaces, features, and search functions, each site is valuable for the authoritative information it provides.Originality/value ‐‐ The state encyclopedias discussed are all open access resources that provide scholarly, authoritative information in an easily accessible format. Through evaluation of the web design, search features, currency, and scope and content, librarians can assist their users with searching and locating information in these encyclopedias.
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‐‐ The purpose of this paper is to examine past, current, and future usage of encyclopedias.Design/methodology/approach ‐‐ The paper reviews the history of encyclopedias, their…
Abstract
Purpose
‐‐ The purpose of this paper is to examine past, current, and future usage of encyclopedias.Design/methodology/approach ‐‐ The paper reviews the history of encyclopedias, their composition, and usage by focusing on select publications covering different subject areas.Findings ‐‐ Due to their static nature, traditionally published encyclopedias are not always accurate, objective information resources. Intentions of editors and authors also come into question. A researcher may find more value in using encyclopedias as historical documents rather than resources for quick facts.Practical implications ‐‐ Academic librarians may begin to invest more selectively in encyclopedias, whether in print or electronic format, and market them differently to students and faculty.Originality/value ‐‐ This article explores the academic value of encyclopedias in the twenty‐first century.
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Fengjun Liu, Zhengkui Lin and Yi Qu
Although researchers have demonstrated a keen interest in knowledge collaboration in online encyclopedias, previous studies have seldom explored the dynamic interrelations in…
Abstract
Purpose
Although researchers have demonstrated a keen interest in knowledge collaboration in online encyclopedias, previous studies have seldom explored the dynamic interrelations in online encyclopedias over time that involve the iteratively melding of individual cognitive system and knowledge collaboration system. Therefore, this paper aims to reveal the structure and dynamics of knowledge collaboration in online encyclopedias from a perspective of system dynamics (SD).
Design/methodology/approach
This paper proposes a general activity system of knowledge collaboration in online encyclopedias based on Engeström’s activity theory. According to the SD methodology proposed by Forrester, this study develops a holistic SD model by identifying interactions of knowledge collaboration factors based on behavioral theories; validating the SD model by structural tests and behavior tests involving historical data of English Wikipedia; and conducting simulation to capture the interactive dynamics of the salient factors of knowledge collaboration.
Findings
According to the SD methodology, this study develops and validates an SD model to explore interesting dynamic interrelations among core factors (contributors, conflicts, discussions, entries quantity and entries quality) that are neglected by previous research. The results show that there is a significant negative feedback relationship between inactive contributors and entries quality, between contributors and conflicts and between edit conflicts and entries quality. There is a complicated nonlinear feedback relationship between active contributors and entries quality, and between edit conflicts and discussions.
Originality/value
Different from prior empirical studies that normally investigate the unidirectional linear relationships among prominent factors of knowledge collaboration in online encyclopedias from a static perspective, this study captures a dynamic picture of their interrelations by unfolding their behavior patterns over time. The main contribution of this study is to develop a holistic SD model and to reveal and elaborate on the complex dynamics involved online encyclopedias based on activity theory.
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An updated edition of an already owned reference tool is something a library usually acquires without much fanfare. If book budgets permit, it is purchased and replaces the…
Abstract
An updated edition of an already owned reference tool is something a library usually acquires without much fanfare. If book budgets permit, it is purchased and replaces the previous edition on the shelf.
Shane Greenstein and Michelle Devereux
Encyclopædia Britannica was the leading provider of encyclopedias in the English language, but after sales declined rapidly in the early 1990s the company was forced to file for…
Abstract
Encyclopædia Britannica was the leading provider of encyclopedias in the English language, but after sales declined rapidly in the early 1990s the company was forced to file for bankruptcy. Many different organizational and market factors contributed to this crisis, such as the diffusion of the PC, the invention of Encarta, the technical challenges of moving text to electronic formats, and the difficulties of inventing a new format while also operating the leading seller of books. Looking back, what could the company have done differently?
To illustrate important themes on a leading firm's response to technical opportunities and threats; teach students about technological waves, technological disruption, and different concepts of obsolescence; and examine strategic concepts such as attacker's advantages and skunk works.
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Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry is the fifth completely revised edition of Ullmann's Encyklopaedie der Technischen Chemie, the fourth edition of which was completed…
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Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry is the fifth completely revised edition of Ullmann's Encyklopaedie der Technischen Chemie, the fourth edition of which was completed in 1984. The fifth edition began with volume Al in 1985 and is expected to be completed in thirty‐six volumes by 1996, three or four volumes appearing each year. A cumulative index will be published each year to provide access to published volumes. This reviewer had volumes A1 through A7 (1985–1986) and the Index to Volumes A1 to A4 (Abrasives to Calcium Sulfate) (1986) available for review. The most noticeable difference between the fourth and fifth editions is “publication of the Encyclopedia in the English language rather than in the German of its predecessors.” (editors' preface to vol. A1) Thus, it can now join the ranks of the other prominent encyclopedia of chemical technology and industry: Kirk‐Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology (Wiley‐Interscience, 3d ed., 1978–84, 25 vols.). Another comprehensive chemical engineering encyclopedia, Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design (John J. McKetta, editor; Dekker, 1976) is incomplete, as of this writing, volume 27 (covering through lectone dimethyl) being the latest to have been published. Since the first edition is incomplete and not as well established in the chemical technology community, the Encyclopedia of Chemical Processing and Design will not be discussed here. Anyone interested in a comparative review of all three encyclopedias is referred to the review by Jay Matley entitled “Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry,” which appeared in Chemical Engineering (vol. 93, no. 8 [28 April 1986]: 95–98). This review will compare the fifth edition of Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry with the third edition of Kirk‐Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology (the two works will be referred to as Ullmann and Kirk‐Othmer, respectively).
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the second edition of the Encyclopaedia Judaica (2007) within its broader historical context of the production of encyclopedias in the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the second edition of the Encyclopaedia Judaica (2007) within its broader historical context of the production of encyclopedias in the twentieth and the twenty‐first centuries. The paper contrasts the 2007 edition of the Encyclopaedia Judaica to the Jewish Encyclopedia published between 1901 and 1905, and to the first edition of the Encyclopaedia Judaica published in 1972; then contrasts the 2007 edition of the Encyclopaedia Judaica to Wikipedia and to other projects of online encyclopedias.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper provides a personal reflective review of the sources in question.
Findings
That Encyclopaedia Judaica in its latest edition does not adequately replace the original first edition in terms of depth of scholarly work. It is considered that the model offered by Wikipedia could work well for the Encyclopaedia Judaica, allowing it to retain the core of the expert knowledge, and at the same time channel the energy of volunteer editors which has made Wikipedia such a success.
Practical implications
The paper is of interest to those with an interest in encyclopedia design or Jewish studies.
Originality/value
This paper provides a unique reflection on the latest edition of the encyclopedia and considers future models for its publication based on traditional and non‐traditional methods.
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For over 200 years the Encyclopaedia Britannica has been the standard against which all other English language encyclopedias are measured. Although universally acknowledged as an…
Abstract
For over 200 years the Encyclopaedia Britannica has been the standard against which all other English language encyclopedias are measured. Although universally acknowledged as an outstanding reference work, it has endured a series of financial crises, questionable editorial decisions, and a difficult transition into the computer age. This article will examine the most controversial of the Britannica’s moves, the decision to divide the encyclopedia into the Micropaedia and Macropaedia. The many intellectual improvements that were introduced into the Britannica at this time were overshadowed by attention given to the unusual, sometimes frustrating, new arrangement of the set. An even greater threat to the Britannica’s livelihood has come from the electronic age. Ironically, it was only after the Britannica came online that many of the problems that were inherent in the printed version have been resolved.
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Published in its first edition in 1978, the Encyclopedia of Bioethics already deserves landmark status for several reasons including uniqueness of concept, overall quality and…
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Published in its first edition in 1978, the Encyclopedia of Bioethics already deserves landmark status for several reasons including uniqueness of concept, overall quality and broad appeal. Previous articles in this column have traced the historical development of longstanding reference classics. Because the Encyclopedia is a relatively young tool, the substance of this review will depart somewhat from other essays in the series by focusing more on the content, organization and scope of the work rather than its evolution.
Over the years, Encyclopaedia Britannica has undergone a number of revisions and has been provided in a number of formats other than print. The different electronic formats…
Abstract
Over the years, Encyclopaedia Britannica has undergone a number of revisions and has been provided in a number of formats other than print. The different electronic formats include a CD‐ROM version, a subscription online version, a free online version that was recently changed to a subscription version, and a DVD‐ROM version. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usability and effectiveness of the different electronic versions of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. The objectives of this study were to find out if one of the electronic versions of the Encyclopaedia Britannica is easier to use than the others, to see if the users are satisfied with the information that they retrieved from each version, and to see if the users retrieve the same information from each version. Over one third (six) of 15 participants thought that britannica.com was the easiest to use. The main reason mentioned was the set‐up of the initial results screen. Most of the participants felt that all of the databases answered the searches sufficiently and nine participants felt that britannica.com answered the searches the best. The main reason mentioned was the variety of information sources provided on the search results page (Encyclopaedia Britannica articles, magazine articles, Web sites, and books). Seven of the participants were satisfied with using all of the databases.
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