World Book, Inc.

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• World Book Encyclopedia

Founded in 1915, World Book, Inc. is a publisher of reference and instructional materials for children and adults in both print and digital format. It is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Well-known for it’s iconic encyclopedia, The World Book Encyclopedia, which was first published in 1917, World Book quickly became a perennial favorite in the school, library, and home markets. World Book also publishes series nonfiction for the K-12 market, covering history, science, geography, and other curricular basics. With the rise in popularity of online information and digital resources, World Book created World Book Online, a collection of 23 specialized subscription websites designed for a wide range of ages that now includes World Book eBooks, a digital reading platform offering access to World Book titles in eBook format. World Book also publishes children’s non-fiction and picture books under the Bright Connections Media imprint, and educational development and supplemental instructional resources through Incentive Publications by World Book.

Print and digital products are distributed to schools and libraries exclusively by a sales team, which has field representatives throughout the world.

World Book was purchased by the Scott Fetzer Company (Westlake OH) in 1978. In 1986, The Scott Fetzer Company was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. (Omaha NE).

HISTORY OF THE WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA

The first edition of The World Book Encyclopedia was issued in 1917. “As a rule,” writes Editor in Chief Michael Vincent O’Shea in the preface to that first edition, “encyclopedias are apt to be quite formal and technical. A faithful effort has been made in the World Book to avoid this common defect.” Since World Book first appeared, in addition to ensuring its accuracy and up-to-datedness, its editors have worked to make information come alive with clear, interesting writing and informative, inviting illustrations. Since the encyclopedia first appeared in print, it has grown from 8 volumes to 22 volumes, from a set with limited color plates to one with color throughout.

The 1917 edition consisted of 8 volumes and 6,300 pages. Its title page carried the name of Hanson-Roach-Fowler Company as publisher. But within two years, World Book had become the property of W.F. Quarrie & Company, which guided its growth for the next quarter century. Quarrie began the practice of publishing a revised edition every year, a tradition that—except for 1920, 1924, and 1932—has continued to the present day. The first major revision of World Book appeared in 1929. The “new” edition consisted of 13 volumes.

The 1930’s saw the formation of an Editorial Advisory Board composed of distinguished educators. The Board launched an analysis of typical school curriculums, which provided the editors with data on the subjects being studied in all grades from kindergarten to high school. Today, World Book editors continue to develop content that meets curriculum needs.

In 1945, The World Book Encyclopedia became the property of Field Enterprises, Inc. Two years later, the second major revision of World Book was published. It expanded the set to 19 volumes.

In 1955, World Book launched the Classroom Research Program, which students in many classrooms fill out cards telling what they looked up in World Book. The cards provided the editors with data on actual student usage of World Book. The third major revision of World Book was published in 1960. It increased the set’s size to 20 volumes.

During the 1970’s, two new features enhanced the set’s ease of use. The addition of the Research Guide/Index for the 1972 edition, which expanded the set to its present 22 volumes, provided readers with an in-depth index and guidance in conducting independent research. Metric equivalents were included for virtually all the measurements in World Book for the 1975 edition, giving readers measurements in both the inch-pound system and the metric system.

The editorial pace quickened by the 1980’s, culminating with the fourth major revision of World Book in 1988. Highlights included a new typeface and page design, and some 10,000 new editorial features.

Starting with the 2013 edition, World Book added QR codes to the pages of the encyclopedia as a complimentary web-based resource to enhance the encyclopedia and offer a link between traditional and new learning formats. Selected articles include a QR code that links to a companion website featuring a chronology of events, quizzes, videos, and other material prepared by World Book editors.

The 2015 edition included thousands of new, revised, and expanded articles, spanning recent and historical events, important world leaders, notable people, scientific discoveries, and pop culture, including: Ukraine and Crimea; Vladimir Putin, President of Russia; Saint John XXIII and Saint John Paul II; Activist Julian Assange; and Entertainers Eminem, Taylor Swift, and Jackie Chan.

Today, World Book is the only current encyclopedia on the market with approximately one-third of its pages revised each year and over 25,000 photographs and illustrations. It is created with the collaboration of expert contributors, advisers, editors and researchers to ensure readability, accuracy, and currency. Since the 2014 version, there have been 1,740 new and revised articles; 140 new and revised maps; 133 new photos and other illustrations; and 2,640 pages revised.

DESIGN AND SPINESCAPE®

A defining characteristic of The World Book Encyclopedia is its Spinescape® design, World Book’s trademarked method of printing a unique image across the spine of the 22-volume encyclopedia. Debuting in 2000, this image is designed to draw readers in and encourage them to learn and explore more about their world. The classic edition continues to be offered with traditional black binding.

EARLY DIGITAL ADVANCEMENTS AND HISTORY OF WORLD BOOK ONLINE

World Book responded to technological advances and the proliferation of the personal computer with the publication in 1990 of a CD-ROM version of the encyclopedia, the World Book Information Finder. The CD-ROM version has been subsequently engineered for multiple computer operating systems and enhanced with video and audio clips, animations, simulations, and interactive 360-degree views. However, the added multimedia meets the same criterion applied to the selection of illustrations for the print set: the media must advance the educational effectiveness of the publication. In 1998, World Book Online made its debut as a collection of databases and features suited to a wide range of information needs for users at home, in schools, and in libraries. World Book Online was first offered to schools and libraries on a subscription basis in 1998 and to individual and home subscribers in 1999. The online version was retitled the World Book Online Reference Center in 2003 to acknowledge the increased breadth of its utility and content. Such features as interactive atlas, integrated dictionary, and background information about current events made the World Book Online Reference Center flexible and responsive to the needs of information seekers at home, in classrooms, and in libraries.

In 2013, World Book launched World Book eBooks, a collection of interactive, illustrated eBooks viewable from World Book’s own customizable platform and accessible from smartphones and tablets. Subscribers have the ability to customize their personal bookshelves as add notes, highlights, and bookmarks as well as access such multimedia features as videos, audio, and games. Subscribers receive 24/7 unlimited simultaneous access to the entire collection.

In 2014, World Book redesigned its article pages to enhance the readability and educational value of its content in many of its products including Student, Info Finder, Advanced, Online Reference Center, and Academic. Large, colorful splash images are displayed for the most popular articles. Text appears larger and is organized into call-out boxes making pages appear streamlined. Today, World Book Online is comprised of 23 individual online databases that are offered in both individual and subscription packages to home users, schools, and libraries throughout the world. The target audience for World Book Online ranges from products made specifically for preschoolers to others suited for more advanced research needs. Many products are customized for use on tablets and smartphones as well as on laptops and personal computers.

INTERNATIONAL REACH

World Book also owns a separate business in New Delhi, India, supports its European sales through a regional manager in Sweden, and maintains relationships with major distributors in countries around the world.

ASSOCIATED PUBLISHING PROJECTS

Bright Connections Media

World Book introduced a new retail venture in the form of a children’s book publisher, Bright Connections Media, in 2012. World Book named the endeavor Bright Connections Media because they claim that children crave quality material that responds to their aptitude, interest, and curiosity and these books connect children’s curiosity to a solid foundation of sound information. Bright Connections Media mission is to meet young readers at their interests, using sound content and striking design to capture children’s attention.

Incentive Publications (IP)

Incentive Publications was founded by Imogene Forte in Nashville, Tennessee in 1968. She heard continual pleas from her graduate students for up-to-date, ready-to-use classroom resources that could complement standard textbooks. Imogene and a few colleagues formed Incentive Publications and began to create such supplemental resources and continued to do so until World Book acquired Incentive Publications (IP) in 2013. Incentive Publications by World Book continues to produce supplemental resources for student use and instruction and classroom management improvement materials for teachers. Incentive specializes in supplemental resources for middle grades students and teaching strategies for grades K–12. Many IP products are designed specifically to enhance teachers’ ability to implement the Common Core State Standards in today’s classrooms. Many Incentive Publications books are written by educator-authors. Titles are distributed nationally and internationally and are available in e-book format online.