Perusing
the reference section of our Fernie Secondary Library, I was confronted with a
collection whose average age was more than 30 years old. I found myself
scanning the two rows of books, on the hunt for what I recalled as
one of the most essential book collections of my childhood - The World Book (Encyclopedia). My parents had owned a set of these and whenever discussion
around the dinner table turned to some unknown fact or fact in dispute, one of
us would run to the study to grab the appropriate World Book volume in search of
the answer to the question at hand. More often than not our efforts were
rewarded with the sought after information. Many lazy Saturday afternoons were also spent pouring over World Book pages to entertain myself and wile away the time. As my eyes passed over the
rows of specialized sets of encyclopedia - W.W.I, W.W. II, Science and
Technology (all very old), the only more general encyclopedia in sight was the Encyclopedia of British
Columbia. I picked up the single volume edition and flipped the first
few pages to find the date of publication - 2000. I decided to make this
the focus of my resource evaluation. Taking into account Riedling's recommendations regarding encyclopedias(72), I began a close look at our print edition.
Evaluation of a Resource
While I know this encyclopedia has not been well used by students at our school, I can't help but feel this is mainly a result of being without a proper teacher librarian for too many years as well as the result of our current location of the reference section (at the bottom of a row of shelves in a dark, crowded, out of the way corner of our library where all non-fiction books have been relegated by our administration to make room for the Distance Learning School). Riedling explains that encyclopedias of all formats "remain (an) essential reference source for school libraries' (71).
The EBC contains many attractive, full color photographs, maps, and illustrations. The beauty of the book makes it "equally suited for serious use and for casual browsing...it rewards both" (Quill and Quire).
Purpose:
Riedling states that encyclopedias should be considered outdated and replaced five years after publication. The print copy of the EBC was printed in the year 2000. That was the last print edition, making it nearly 20 years old (19 years old), which is almost four times the recommended age. Although history is one area in which it is "not a flaw to possess an old book" (Riedling 72), perspective often changes over time and may affect accuracy. For example, while articles regarding the development of Canada may be accurate, they may fail to include certain perspectives or contributions. Furthermore, articles on such topics as the on-going process of "Truth and Reconciliation" for Indigenous Peoples, environmental protection, or innovative technologies may no longer be accurate. Information in the online edition of the EBC would be more current. The CBC print edition scores a low rating for currency.
Curricular Connections:
While the EBC's content would connect most strongly to the social studies curriculum, it also has some relevance to a number of other subject areas such as other social sciences, music, drama, art, science, and English. One of the core competencies of BC's new curriculum is the concept of social and personal identity. This is also at the heart of place based education theory, which is being widely promoted by our school district. Many of the teachers at our school are doing projects rooted in "place-based education" - a practice which "immerses students in local heritage, cultures, landscapes, opportunities and experiences, using these as a foundation for the study of language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and other subjects across the curriculum" (Promise of Place). An understanding of that which is local is essential to our sense of identity and essential to the principals of place based education. Much of the information in the EBC, while now dated, is still relevant to our curriculum as they make sense of self and place, and as a jumping off point for further reference. Besides, Riedling says encyclopedias should not be considered as sole sources of information, although they do assist in directing and strengthening a student's subsequent work (71).
Efficient Use of Space :
This is a one volume edition which does not take up much space on the shelf.
Not Meeting
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Somewhat Meeting
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Fully Meeting
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Relevancy
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There are many gaps or information is entirely missing. There is little need or desire for this information. It is not easy to access.
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Relevant information is present through some of the resource. Some areas may be more useful than others. There may be a few information gaps or it may be underdeveloped. Information is moderately easy to access.
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The information is highly needed or desired by teachers and students. The information is extremely easy to access.
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Purpose
|
Purpose is unclear or does not serve the needs of students or staff. It may not accomplish its intended purpose.
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The purpose is fairly clear and it still generally accomplishes its mandate.
(with TL assistance)
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The purpose is very clear and it accomplishes what it sets out to do.
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Currency
|
Older than 11 years. Outdated so it is no longer usable. It has been replaced by other sources.
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Much information is still relevant or usable. The resource is no longer contains the most current information.
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Resource is under five years old. It contains current, up to date information.
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Curricular Competencies
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Few connection to curriculum.
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Connections to a moderate number of curricular outcomes.
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Many connection to curriculum. An excellent resource for a number of inquiry topics.
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Efficient Use of
Library Space
|
Takes up a lot of space on shelf.
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It takes up a moderate amount of shelf space.
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Does not take much shelf space (or no shelf space because it is a digital resource)
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Other Considerations
Formatting and Indexing:
The EBC is laid out in a familiar format with alphabetical ordering (and an alphabetical index). The layout is easy to use and read. As the Quill and Quire review states, "The EBC is a pleasure both to look at and use. The 800-plus pages are uncluttered, well-spaced, and margined to keep eye strain to a minimum. The slightly glossy stock sets of the text week, and headers and cross-references are clear and distinct. Suggestion for further reading are present both within the body of the EBC and in a separate section at the end. Colour photographs and maps are dynamic and welcoming" ("A Book Reivew: Encyclopedia of British Columbia"). The vocabulary and sentence structures would not be difficult for students at our school (grades 7-12). The entries are concise and information is presented in a straightforward way, which could be useful for students on IEPs or students who quickly become overwhelmed by large amounts of information.
Objectivity:
While entries have been written to be as factual and objective as possible, because articles in the EBC were written by British Columbians about British Columbia, it seems fair to assume a bias in favor of British Columbia's people and places and an overemphasis of their importance in the world. Also, due to the age of this print resource their may be certain points of view missing. Names of groups of peoples and places may no longer be viewed as appropriate.
Scope:
The EBC covers quite a wide scope. The Quill and Quire writes "Entries range from early Premier Amor De Cosmos to premier basketballer Steve Nash, from the wilds of Long Beach to the historical hear of Vancouver's Gastown. Lengthier sections, written by area specialists including Richard Cannings and Harbour publisher Howard White, include thorough but succinct summaries of history, literature, geography, and the First Nations. The EBC provides both a compelling overview of the province and a wealth of minutiae to satisfy the most trivia-minded" ("A Book Review: Encyclopedia British Columbia"). Yet despite this sizable scope, the passage of time since the print edition has reduced its ability to address the full scope of various topics such as as First Peoples' land claims or residential schools. The EBC may provide background context, but the most current perspectives and events are not included. Further research is required.
Accuracy and Authority:
The EBC was a ten year project made possible through funding from such institutions and agencies as The Telus BC New Media and Broadcast Fund, CBC Television British Columbia, The Province of British Columbia, Telefilm Canada Multimedia Fund, The University of British Columbia, The Canadian Centre for Studies in Publish at Simon Fraser University, The Canadian Council, The Government of Canada Book Publishing Industry, and the British Columbia Arts Council, which are reputable institutions and organizations, many of which exist for the public good. The EBC is comprised of more than 4000 written articles from many respected BC writers and was edited by Daniel Francis, who "in addition to writing twelve books worked on the first and second editions of the Hurtig Canadian Encyclopedia and the Hurtig Junior Encyclopedia of Canada and served as editorial director of the encyclopedic Horizon Canada illustrated history project" (Forward by Howard White." These credentials lend authority to the work.
In terms of accuracy, the forward explains, "The Encyclopedia of BC is an ongoing collaborative project between Harbour Publishing and the people of BC. We have taken great pains to be as careful and judicious as possible in our coverage, but it is inevitable in a project such as this that some things will have slipped through the cracks and some mistakes will have been made. It is our intention to continue updating and expanding the encyclopedia in its interactive edition, which will be available by subscription on the internet at www.knowbc.com."(xi) A book review of the EBC by the Quill and Quire states:
There are some small complaints to be made. Some photographs miss the standard of care set by the written entries (a 1998 publicity photograph of Bachman Turner Overdrive is used, for example - some 20 years after namesake Randy Bachman had left the group), and are occasionally confusing (a photograph of protesting Sons of Freedom Doukhobors is marked 'Agassiz, 1962' - neither the town nor the incident is mentioned even in passing within the text). There are, of course, certain omission (early -1980s radical activists the Squamish Five, for example), but in a volume covering such a far-reaching subject, there are bound to be.
The complains are trifling, and hardly detract from the Encyclopedia's success. "Book Review: Encyclopedia of British Columbia."
Condition and Quality:
The edition's CD-ROM is currently nowhere to be found. As noted earlier, the quality of the book is exceptional and the condition of the our particular volume is also excellent (it looks as thought it is brand new, once again highlighting the absence of a library program for so many years).
Conclusion:
While the age of this resource does not meet the five year criteria, this print source is in excellent physical condition, is well-formatted and indexed, and is still fairly relevant to students and teachers in BC's new curriculum as a starting point for directing student's subsequent research. The age of this resource results in a poor currency score while limiting its curricular connections, purpose, and relevancy. As our library currently contains no other general encyclopedias, and it contains very few local reference resources the EBC may be the only print resource available to seek information pertaining to local identity and place based learning. My research indicates that it is not possible to buy an updated print edition of The Encyclopedia of British Columbia (2000 was the last edition). I will keep it a little longer and use it only when it is not practical to have students use the database KnowBC, which our district already owns. KnowBC is an updated digital edition of this encyclopedia. The print copy would work for subjects which have not been greatly altered through the passage of nineteen years. (It would work for researching subjects in which there have not been new events and no great changes in perspective).
Selection of a Resource
I was glad to learn that our district owns KnowBC, an updated digital version of Encyclopedia of British Columbia, but if students are to access resources in a diverse range of formats, then our print collection still needs some attention, and as I have already noted, our library is without a general encyclopedia collection. I decided to talk with one of the librarians, Tina Hayes, at our town's public library to find out how their reference section is used. I was curious to know if many people were using encyclopedias and I wanted to know which were most used or recommended. What I learned was a little surprising. The Fernie Heritage Library, (a well respected and very vibrant library), has a reference section which would not come close to meeting the standards outline by Riedling or the AIL. Many of their resources, including their collection of The Canadian Encyclopedia, are fifteen to twenty five years old. Even many of their atlases are more than ten years old. Nevertheless, they have a fairly recent collection of World Book, which the reference librarian told me is, by far, the most used collection in the reference room. She said it receives fairly heavy use from students.
Tina and I did a search to see what general encyclopedias we could find in print. We checked Amazon, Quill and Quire, and used key-word searches. We looked for The Canadian Encyclopedia only to discover it is no longer in print. (It is available for free online). There were several other encyclopedia sets which were no longer in print. It became easier for me to understand why some of the public library's encyclopedia collections were much older than Riedling recommends. It seems more and more reference resources are being offered only in a digital format. I wondered if a print collection of encyclopedias is destined to go the way of the dinosaur. My thoughts quickly went to Darryl Beck's first reflective blog post for this course. He posted this video of teens using encyclopedias:
Very quickly our search for a hard copy collection of encyclopedias brought us back to World Book encyclopedias. We discovered the cost, directly from World Book, is in the range of $1000 US for the 2019 edition. From Amazon.com it could be purchased for $626.76 US for the 2018 edition. That amount is a significant portion of my school's library yearly budget! If I were to purchase these books I would need to request some addition funding from our PAC or it would need to come from some other part of the school's budget.
Relevancy:
World Book presents a broad range of information from around the world (rather than only the province of British Columbia). Produced in Chicago, the twenty-two volume set is written with the US student in mind. Articles are easy to read and designed for people anywhere from age nine to adult. Similar to the EBC, the collection is useful for finding quick facts and also as a starting point for more in-depth research, as it provides students with an overview and context for the topic of study (though as already mentioned, the content is not province specific and far broader in scope).
World Book presents a broad range of information from around the world (rather than only the province of British Columbia). Produced in Chicago, the twenty-two volume set is written with the US student in mind. Articles are easy to read and designed for people anywhere from age nine to adult. Similar to the EBC, the collection is useful for finding quick facts and also as a starting point for more in-depth research, as it provides students with an overview and context for the topic of study (though as already mentioned, the content is not province specific and far broader in scope).
Purpose:
This multi-volume collection is organized in a familiar alphabetical arrangement (from A-Z). It provides comprehensive information in concisely written easy to read articles for people ages nine to adult, serving as a ready-reference for checking facts on a wide range of topics such as geography, biology, business, psychology, government, energy, ecology, criminology, popular culture, sports, and much more. Like the EBC, World Book contains many attractive, full color photographs, maps, and illustrations, making it a pleasure to interact with . While teens may prefer to find information online, one advantage of a print encyclopedia over its digital equivalent is the ability to flip through pages and encounter new information one might not have initiated a search toward. Leafing through the pages can be a delightful journey. Several reviews on Goodreads and Amazon mention reading World Book for fun and one Amazon reviewer, Sanjay Agarwal, writes, "there is a special charm in rummaging through these books, and I have spent many leisurely afternoons [doing so]"(Amazon). This description matches my own joyful memories of leafing through World Book pages.
Curricular Connections:
World Book contains information with curricular connections to all subject in our school. The content is easy to read and suitable nearly all grade levels (from grades seven to twelve). With BC's current emphasis on inquiry and student-directed learning, this collection would be useful as a starting point for a wide range of inquiry topics. Although we have digital access to World Book, this would still be an excellent reference for students when computers are not available. It would also be useful for students who struggle to locate information using databases or on-line searches or who struggle to read more advanced text. As well, students who have difficulty finding reliable digital sources will be able to rely on content from the World Book and will be able to use it to provide context for their topics of inquiry.
Because the books are attractive some students may read articles for pleasure or to satisfy personal curiosity. These are desired outcomes within BC's new curriculum.
This multi-volume collection is organized in a familiar alphabetical arrangement (from A-Z). It provides comprehensive information in concisely written easy to read articles for people ages nine to adult, serving as a ready-reference for checking facts on a wide range of topics such as geography, biology, business, psychology, government, energy, ecology, criminology, popular culture, sports, and much more. Like the EBC, World Book contains many attractive, full color photographs, maps, and illustrations, making it a pleasure to interact with . While teens may prefer to find information online, one advantage of a print encyclopedia over its digital equivalent is the ability to flip through pages and encounter new information one might not have initiated a search toward. Leafing through the pages can be a delightful journey. Several reviews on Goodreads and Amazon mention reading World Book for fun and one Amazon reviewer, Sanjay Agarwal, writes, "there is a special charm in rummaging through these books, and I have spent many leisurely afternoons [doing so]"(Amazon). This description matches my own joyful memories of leafing through World Book pages.
Curricular Connections:
World Book contains information with curricular connections to all subject in our school. The content is easy to read and suitable nearly all grade levels (from grades seven to twelve). With BC's current emphasis on inquiry and student-directed learning, this collection would be useful as a starting point for a wide range of inquiry topics. Although we have digital access to World Book, this would still be an excellent reference for students when computers are not available. It would also be useful for students who struggle to locate information using databases or on-line searches or who struggle to read more advanced text. As well, students who have difficulty finding reliable digital sources will be able to rely on content from the World Book and will be able to use it to provide context for their topics of inquiry.
Currency:
The 2019 edition is brand new, and as such it would meet Riedling's guidelines
for age (it is less than five years old). According to World Book, this latest
edition contains "Over 1,200 new and revised article, including North Korea,
drones, virtual reality and the royal wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan
Markle." It also contains current census and economic
data from around the world, new biographies, recent outcome of elections around
the world, updated winners of major awards, sand sports updates for major
events (World Book.com).
Efficient Use of Space:
Not
Meeting
|
Somewhat
Meeting
|
Fully
Meeting
|
|
Relevancy
|
There are many gaps or information is entirely missing. There is little need or desire for this information.
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Relevant information is present through some of the resource. Some areas may be more useful than others. There may be a few information gaps or it may be underdeveloped.
Information is moderately useful.
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The information is highly needed or desired by teachers and students.
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Purpose
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Purpose is unclear or does not serve the needs of students or staff. It may not accomplish its intended purpose.
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The purpose is fairly clear and it still generally accomplishes its mandate.
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The purpose is very clear and it accomplishes what it sets out to do.
|
Currency
|
Older than
11 years. Outdated so it is no longer
usable. It has been replaced by other
sources.
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Much
information is still relevant or usable.
The resource is no longer contains the most current information.
|
Resource is
under five years old. It contains
current, up to date information.
|
Curricular Competencies
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Few connection to curriculum.
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Connections to a moderate number of curricular outcomes.
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Many connection to curriculum. An excellent resource for a number of inquiry topics.
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Efficient Use of
Library Space
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Takes up a lot of space on shelf.
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It takes up a moderate amount of shelf space. The collection is sleek. (Library has space for it)
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Does not take much shelf space (or no shelf space because it is a digital resource)
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Other Considerations
Formatting and Indexing:
This Twenty-two volume set is organized in an easy to understand alphabetical arrangement with more than 25,000 high quality photographs, illustrations, and maps. The pages are colorful and attractively arranged. While there is a lot of information on each page, it is what you would expect of an encyclopedia. The text is easy to read. The index at the back and cross-referenced articles make it easy to find information. Amazon's description of World Book states, "World Book editors present information in a clear, direct style that makes each article readable. Articles start a a relatively basic level and advance in depth as they progress" (Amazon.com). Tonya Saylor, a reviewer on Good Reads also notes, "This newest edition also has QR codes which link readers with related videos and additional content."
Scope:
The WB is a twenty two volume set covering a broad range of topics such as geography, biology, business, psychology, government, energy, ecology, criminology, popular culture, sports, and much more. Because this is a 2019 edition current topics are included. The set includes sections explaining how to use World Book as well as other research aids, student guides to a variety of communication skills, research skills, and a pronunciation key. There are more than 17,000 articles and more than 25,000 visuals.
Objectivity:
Although there is an attempt at objectivity and world-wide coverage, the book is produced by a US
company (many company shares owned by Warren Buffet) and may have a US slant in terms
of more emphasis being placed on US content. Britannia states: "World Book Encyclopedia [is] an American encyclopedia designed to meet the curriculum needs of elementary through high-school students" (Britannia). The curriculum needs referred to are US curricular needs. The selection of information is largely for a US audience. A Wikipedia entry on World Book indicates that although a balanced or equal coverage is attempted from one subject to another, World Book contains more information in the subjects of science, technology, and medicine (Wikipedia.)
Accuracy and Authority:
World Book is widely viewed as a reputable source of information. Britannia online state, "Contributors include authorities in the physical, biological, and social sciences and other fields. World features thorough cross-references, and lists of related articles are included at the end of entries on major subjects" (Britannia). Wikipedia's entry on World Book mentions that articles are put together by experts in their fields. While most librarians and users trust World Book's accuracy, Amazon review, Sanjay Agarwal, writes, "The only worries that I have are about the reliability of information. For instance I found that a river in Arunachal Pradesh (India) has been named wrongly, and the people of the region do not recognize the name at all. Similarily, the entry related to Lord Shri Ram, worshipped by millions of HIndus, there is not mention that he is viewed as divinity by Hindus. This obviously raises doubts as to whether information related to other cultures of topics is also erroneous" (Agarwal). Agarwal further goes on to say that when contacted about these errors World Book did not respond. This was the only review questioning World Book's reliability. All others were positive. In a project of this size there are bound to be some errors, especially when dealing with content farther away from the country and culture of publication (World Book is a US publication). As with all sources of information, it is necessary to cross-reference findings to be assured of accuracy and reliability.
Condition and Quality:
The books use high quality paper and glossy images. Because we do not have many current resources and we are in the process of weeding many outdated reference books we will have a lot of room on the shelf for this collection.
Conclusions:
The WB fully meets
the criteria outlined by Riedling for encyclopedia and reference resources in
general. Although print encyclopedias are disappearing and many students
prefer to use on-line sources of information, there is a place for this print
edition in our reference collection. The collection could service
students without easy access to digital sources and with lower reading levels. It
could be used to teach research skills with print sources. Our
district has many digital resources, including KnowBC, Ebsochost,
and World Book databases, but as Riedling points out, students should be able
to do research in a variety of formats and print is under-represented in our
library. Finally, there is still something wonderful about holding a book
in your hand and becoming lost in newly discovered bits of information as one
flips through the pages, perhaps while on the way to something else.
Works Cited
British Columbia. Ministry of Education. “Building Student Success –BC’s New
Curriculum.” curriculum.gov.bc.ca. Web. Accessed 3 February 2019.
Germaine, Karla. "Encyclopedia of British Columbia on FSS Reference Shelf." February 2019.
FBE. "Teens react to encyclopedias." Online video clip. YouTube. 12 July 2015. Web. Accessed 30
Riedling, Ann. Reference skills for the school library media specialist: Tools and tips. (Third Edition)
Santa Barbara, LA: Linworth, 2013.
TED-Ed. "The Controversial origins of the Encyclopedia." Online video clip. YouTube. 18 February
Agarwak, Sanjay. Review of The World Book Encyclopedia. Amazon. 2013. Web. Accessed 3
February 2019.
Amazon. Description of The World Book Encyclopedia. Web. Accessed 3 February 2019.
School Library Programs in Canada. The Canadian School Library Association and
the Association for Teacher- Librarianship in Canada. 2003. Accessed 18 January
2019.
Beck, Darryl. "Can Anyone Find the Reference Section?" Mr. B's Blog.
kidstonkokanee.blogspot.com, 27 January 2019. Web. Accessed 28 January 2019. British Columbia. Ministry of Education. “Building Student Success –BC’s New
Curriculum.” curriculum.gov.bc.ca. Web. Accessed 3 February 2019.
FBE. "Teens react to encyclopedias." Online video clip. YouTube. 12 July 2015. Web. Accessed 30
February 2019.
Francis, Daniel. Review of Encyclopedia of British Columbia. Quill and Quirre. Web. Accessed 2
February 2019.
Germaine, Karla. “World Books in Fernie Heritage Library.” February 2019. Photograph.
Photograph.
Photograph.
Hayes, Tina. "Reference Resources Tutorials." Interview by Karla Germaine. November 2018.
Mendgen. "Love it or Doom it: Evaluation of Reference Resources." Ms. Mendgen's
Blog. Mendgen.blogspot.com, 24 July 2018. Web. Accessed 30 January 2019.
Mendgen. "Love it or Doom it: Evaluation of Reference Resources." Ms. Mendgen's
Blog. Mendgen.blogspot.com, 24 July 2018. Web. Accessed 30 January 2019.
Santa Barbara, LA: Linworth, 2013.
TED-Ed. "The Controversial origins of the Encyclopedia." Online video clip. YouTube. 18 February
2016. Web. Accessed 1 February 2019.
"The World Book Encyclopedia." Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. Accessed 3 February 2019.
"The World Book Encyclopedia." Wikipedia. Web. Accessed 3 February 2019.
"2019 World Book." World Book. Worldbook.com. Web. Accessed 2 February 2019.
"The World Book Encyclopedia." Wikipedia. Web. Accessed 3 February 2019.
"What is Place-Eased Education?" Promise of Place. promiseofplace.com. Web. Accessed 05
February 2019. "2019 World Book." World Book. Worldbook.com. Web. Accessed 2 February 2019.
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