Encyclopaedia Britannica to End Print Edition; Goes 100% Digital

When I was growing up, I had fun hauling a random volume from our encyclopedia collection from the shelf and looking through it, unsure of what I was going to read about. I am sure I’m not alone. With the advent of the Internet, however, the lustre of owning an actual encyclopedia set has undoubtedly lessened for many, and with the likes of Wikipedia, the reasons for owning such a thing have become almost nonexistent.

As sad as it is, there’s just no competing with a resource that’s easily accessible, free, and constantly updated. Because of this, Encyclopaedia Britannica is finally stopping the presses on its ever-popular product, after a staggering 244 years of printing. Think about that for a moment – 244 years. Some might argue that it’s surprising that the printed volumes have lasted quite this long, but it’s no doubt hard to easily shut down something as traditional as this.

The last printed edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica was pushed out in 2010, and remains on sale for some time. Interested in owning a set? The 32-book volume will set you back a handsome $1,495 USD.

Encyclopaedia Britannica isn’t going anywhere, however. Like the path other printed works have taken, content can still be access via its website, mobile apps and also DVD-ROM.