In Print or Online, Encyclopedias Seen as Valuable Learning Tool

Online-only Britannica is part of reference evolution

At a time when schools are relying more and more on digital resources, the announcement this month that Encyclopaedia Britannica will cease publishing the print edition of its 32-volume set and focus efforts on its digital offerings was unlikely to cause much angst among students and teachers. In fact, the news of the demise of the printed set after 244 years drew some questions about the need for schools, especially in a financially challenging environment, to pay for such reference materials—whether they be online or in print—in an age of seemingly limitless free resources available on the Web.

But encyclopedias and other reference materials continue to play a crucial role in K-12 schools, school librarians say.

"There's a real sense of security to be able to [direct students to resources like encyclopedias]," said Susi Grissom, the librarian at the 396-student William B. Travis Academy and Vanguard for the Academically Talented and Gifted, in...