Unless you’ve been living under a rock on a planet in an alternate universe you’ve probably heard of, in not repeatedly used, Wikipedia. The online “encyclopedia” has become as common place as Google, we just run there to find something out. The information may not be very accurate but that doesn’t seem to phase the average “webizen” (someone that spends too much time on the Internet – I include myself in this). While doing my usual trawling on the Internet I came across an article at CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) about a German publisher that is compiling a “best of” hard copy of the German Wikipedia. You can read the whole article here.
Needless to say, I found this article rather interesting. The debate about how useful Wikipedia is has been raging for quite some time now, and there doesn’t seem to be an end insight. My personal take on the debate is that Wikipedia is a great platform to begin research but is far from the last place you should look. I do usually use the site (and must admit I have an annoying tune that goes with my trip to the site). But this made me wonder if Wikipedia has a home on the bookshelves on the non-cyber world.
The publisher (Bertelsmann AG) has a team of editors working on the tome to ensure it is accurate, which is a huge difference from what happens on the web-page. This gives some validity to the book form but I think it also takes away from what Wikipedia is. A book form also takes away other obvious features found on the site, and they are mentioned in the article so I wont go into it. So, I wonder should it be publish under the Wikipedia title or should it maybe take on another title? I also wonder how many of my readers would be interested in owning a copy of an English Wikipedia in book form? I’m not sure I would say no, but I also wouldn’t be quick to say I would jump at the chance to have a copy.
There is something rather intriguing about Wikipedia in both web form and book form. It’s hard to point out what it is exactly that draws me to the site, I think it’s the idea of the world working together to form a huge database of knowledge. The German edition of the book is going to be a collection of the entries that were most searched, which adds a third, fourth, fifth, eightieth layer of interest in the book. It’s like having a time capsule of information at the fore of today’s minds…makes me want a copy more now that I think of it. It’s definitely an interesting idea and I’m sure publishers world wide are going to be keeping a record on the sales to see if this is a band wagon they should be jumping on.
Are they looking at making this a yearly publication or is just a passing fad? Is Wikipedia here to stay in many forms? Some we may have yet to encounter? Just something to think about.
That's the Book! 
I love Wikipedia! and it IS easy to forget that the facts may not be the most accurate. It is a good jumping off point to start. And it is fascinating that it is an evolving source of knowledge. I wouldn’t get a book copy, just knowing my own book habits…
Hey there fellow Weekly Geek! I see you’re reading The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Blue Bear – I loved that book! I lent my copy out somewhere along the way and need to acquire a new one! I’d also like to read some of Moers other books.
Bkclubcare: I like Wikipedia too. You’re right it is easy to forget about accuracy there is so much on the site and the amount of knowledge at your fingertips is great.
Ashleigh: Welcome, I’m not very far into the book but I really like it so far. The drawings are very whimsical. I could see myself wanting to read more by Moers once I’m finished the book.
I love Wikipedia. Even taking into consideration the inaccuracies, its hard to beat the sheer presence of Wikipedia on the web. There is hardly a single thing that I google that doesn’t pull up a Wikipedia page as one of the first couple of results. I think Wikipedia is here to stay, because it fits so well with the whole idea of the internet… anyone can participate. I don’t know about a book form, though. If I wanted a book format, I’d turn to an encyclopedia whose accuracy I trust more.
I enjoy Wikipedia, but don’t really care about seeing it in book form.
Kim L: Wikipedia sure does have a presence on the web, I’ve never really thought of that. I’m sure the site is here to stay but I wonder if the book side of things will be around for a while. I do find something appealing about having a yearbook type thing for Wikipedia. It would give some in site into what we were thinking…or not thinking in any given year!
Bybee: I would have guessed that would have been your take on the topic.
caught it his I got that to actually