Encyclopaedia Britannica to end print edition after 244 years

[Troy]

Encyclopaedia Britannica Incorporated says it will stop publishing print editions of its flagship encyclopedia.
The Chicago-based company announced on Tuesday that the encyclopedia won't be available in book form for the first time in 244 years. The company will continue to publish digital versions.

Encyclopaedia Britannica President Jorge Cauz says the company has foreseen "the end of the print set" for some time.

The company says ending the print edition of the 32-volume encyclopedia is the latest step in a move toward digital publishing and expanding its range of educational products. The Encyclopedia Britannica was first published in Scotland in 1768.

Cauz says top year for the printed encyclopedia was 1990, when 120,000 sets were sold. He says that number fell to 40,000 in 1996.

It was inevitable but it is still a real shame that this is coming to a close especially considering that it has been printed for 244 years. I remember in my early years at school whenever we had a project to do everyone would got straight to these Encyclopaedia's to get the information. Now it is so easy to get the information online so there really isn't a need for the print editions but it is still the end of an era.

 

[Kiffy Lube]

Couldn't get gullible school girls to go door to door anymore to push it?

 

[rcoot93]

Real shame

 

[TheOneKnownAsFetter]

Sucks to see, cause I as well always used Encyclopedia in school and at home. Back in the day I actually had a Encyclopedia computer version.