HIT: Frequency of replacing print encylopedias

[Jaclyn Foster <jkfinpa@YAHOO.COM>]

I received twenty responses to my question regarding how often print encyclopedias 
should be replaced.  Thirteen people suggested every five years. Two people we 
required to replace them every ten years.  Two people suggested every two years and 
two people suggested every three years.  I person suggested every four years at 
election time.
Below is a sampling of the responses I received:


I seem to remember something in one of my classes about replacing encyclopedias 
every 5 years; however, because it takes up to two years for the information that 
is compiled in an encyclopedia (print) to be published, you it would mean that a 5 
year encyclopedia (from 2000 copyright upgraded) could be up to 7 years old by the 
time you get the

information in 2005 (because it was actually being compiled in 1998 for the 2000 
edition.



I think (hope) that things have gotten better about that (in print), but I think 
that by purchasing the print encyclopedia WITH an online companion (like World 
Book), you can stay up-dated while you're waiting for the final upgrade in print 
later.  (World Book has some great offers with their print - online combination 
purchases---I've updated ours by buying both and it keeps me up-to-date online even 
if the print is slightly outdated).

___________________________



I plan to buy World Book as often as budget allows. The tradition at our school 
(this will be my 2nd year)  is to process out the older sets and give them to 4th 
or 5th grade classrooms if a certain teacher wants the set. (Of course telling them 
to make sure to discuss with the kids how some stuff could be out of date.)

_____________________________



I was a newbie 5 years ago and bought a 2000 World Book to replace much older 
versions. My plan is to buy the 2005 edition this year. I have purchased 2 sets of 
World Book's Student Discovery since then. I would like to have a new WB every 3 
years but budget (and use) make 5 years seem more practical. I will keep the 2000 
in the library and discard an older set.

______________________________



I think that World Book updates 20% of it's entries each year, so after 5 years, 
the entire contents has been reviewed and updates, so I would suggest every 5 
years.  That's what I did.

_________________________________



I have found the biggest factors in making this decision is HOW OFTEN ARE THEY USED 
and WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR?  If you have classes in all the time using the 
encyclopedia I would get another set every three years or so.  However if you have 
a few sets and the classes are looking up animals or bugs and you don't need 
current info you might want to wait five or six years.

_______________________________



In the past I would have replaced a print encyclopedia at least once every two 
years in an elementary school.  Now we have an online version of our most popular 
(World Book) and my most current print version in 2000.







Thank you to eveyone who responded,



Jacky Foster

Media Specialist

Waddell Elementary School

Lexington, VA







---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail is new and improved - Check it out!

--------------------------------------------------------------------
All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET  2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL  4) SET LM_NET DIGEST  * Allow for confirmation.
LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/
LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------