Back in the early 1990’s we made a big investment and bought a copy of the World Book Encyclopedia. From what I can remember it costed quite a bit but it was worth it. Most of my research for any paper or project I had to do in my school years was done using these as the starting point. (and the middle and the end for most of the research).We still have the encyclopedias at home in Delhi but they are not much used. I think Vir has used them a few times to find something but with the internet putting the latest research at your fingertips the physical books are not that used.
However, there are multiple advantages to having a physical copy of something. For example, we are not dependent on internet connectivity or even electricity to be able to look up something in a physical book. Plus there is just a different feel to having a physical book in your hand rather than a digital copy.
Found a post earlier this week where this journalist found out that the World Book Encyclopedia is still being actively published in physical form every year and I was actually tempted to go and buy the latest version just so that I have it at home. Then I saw the cost for full set and decided that nostalgia is all well and good but not worth spending $1,199. You can also subscribe to an online version of the encyclopedia for lot cheaper cost but I don’t think I am going to do that. I have access to enough other sources where this is not needed.
This reminded me that I do have a CD version of the Encarta Encyclopedia lying around somewhere, maybe I should install it and see if it still works on my new system…
Source: Arstechnica: I just bought the only physical encyclopedia still in print, and I regret nothing
– Suramya