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Article: Encyclopedias Lumber into Internet Landscape.(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Black Issues in Higher Education
- Article date:
- April 13, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 Cox, Matthews & Associates. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Encyclopedias traditionally have been regarded by academics as second-rate sources of information, collections of summaries short on depth and authority, works that any self-respecting academic would be embarrassed to cite in a paper or presentation. Using primary sources -- firsthand accounts and opinion -- is the gold standard.
But as the Internet makes dubious firsthand information available with a few clicks of the mouse, encyclopedias aren't looking so bad after all. In contrast to the rumors, gossip, hoaxes, exaggerations, falsehoods and mistakes that surfers can find on the 'Net, encyclopedias are a bastion of professionally written and edited material ...