Encarta

[Marjorie Pappas <marjoriep@AOL.COM>]

     We have the Microsoft Encarta electronic encyclopedia in the computer
lab of the Educational Resource Center that supports our College of Education
and I have been using this with students in classes and workshops.
     My own observations and information from reviews suggests the text is
much enhanced beyond the original Funk and Wagnalls print encyclopedia.  If
text is the major issue, then I encourage LMS to apply the same standards to
other electronic encyclopedias.  Comptons (print version) is a well-accepted
encyclopedia, but the text and content are more appropriate for elementary
students.  I have seen the electronic verion in all levels of school LMCs and
yet if text is the significant issue here then I question the appropriateness
of this resource in a secondary LMC.
     However, I believe there are other significant features that should be
considered in this evaluation process.  The features of the search engine
that is connected with each of the electronic encyclopedias is important, not
only in terms of the available options but also in terms of student level.
Compton's does not have a Boolean search option.  Is this appropriate for
elementary students?  What about secondary students?  Microsoft Encarta does
have a Boolean search option, but the screen design and proximity features
are not as easy to use as the Groliers.
     Other issues:  What is the value of features like images, animation,
movies, and sound in the information-accessing process?  Are these just nice
enhancements or viable sources of information?  What about hypertext
features?
      I guess the question becomes, do we evaluate electronic encyclopedias
based on the same criteria we have applied to print versions?  If not, then
what are some important evaluative criteria for electronic encyclopedias?

Marjorie Pappas
Library Media Program Coordinator
Wright State University
Dayton, Ohio
marjoriep@aol.com