Encyclopedia Britannica Going Out Of Print

Encyclopedia Britannica Going Out Of Print, Long before the Internet, there was the Encyclopaedia Britannica. Anything Marian Kohan wanted to learn about the world — from A to Z — could be found among the thousands of pages in the Britannica multivolume set.

“I remember growing up and poring over those thin little pages,” said Kohan, an Erie School District librarian. “I’ll miss it.”

Earlier this month, Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc., which has printed its encyclopedia for more than 240 years, announced the massive 2010 printed edition would be its last. Instead, the immense collection of facts will be available through paid online subscription and its other digital products.

Britannica’s complete shift to digital, however, isn’t really a loss for local libraries. Although places such as Blasco Library and Strong Vincent High School have print editions of the latest Britannica, patrons and students prefer more user-friendly encyclopedia sets and online sources.

“The Britannica is pretty in-depth,” said Ann Marie Schlindwein, adult services manager at Blasco Library, which has one set of the 2010 Encyclopaedia Britannica. “It’s more academic level.”