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All The Proof Needed That The World Keeps Changing

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty 0575737

BritanicaSometimes I know I observe markers in life that serve as stark examples for us of change. Yellow pages being used less and less, newspaper subscriptions for home delivery down, etc. This week, another...

All The Proof Needed That The World Keeps Changing.

Encyclopedia Brittanica is discontinuing its printed edition (32 volumes) after 244 years peaking in 1990 and going online digital version only ($70 / yr vs $1,400)

Wikipedia, eBooks, just the WHOLE Internet has been tough on these very well written encyclopedias plus information changes so fast, the print version can't stay as current as online.

Like the real estate business, we all must adapt to change. It is ever present. And you see it everywhere. Rites of passage, with better tools now.

Comments (20)

Anne M. Costello
Weidel Realtors - Yardley, PA

Gary: I have read a lot of comments today in many forums about how sad this is. However, almost instantaneous updates make the Brittanica more useful, I think. And think of all the resources  - paper and ink - that will not be used. The body of work is  not going away.

Mar 14, 2012 09:39 AM
Emily Medvec
eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM
Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM

Gary, change is constant. As the rate online communication and e-commerce along with e-social is growing, I expect to see apps replacing websites within the next five years. Hopefully, Realtor(r) will not be replaced by robots!

Mar 14, 2012 09:48 AM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson
Grants Pass, OR - Bend, OR
The Savvy Broker - ABR, CRS

Our family used to buy a set every year... until the Internet arrived on the scene.  It's the ends of a Britannica era!

Mar 14, 2012 09:49 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

All true what you say. I read they have apps for iPhone and iPad for Britannica as well with a monthly subscription fee. Everything is turning into an APP in this information age. True. True. True.

Mar 14, 2012 09:52 AM
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Gary - I am sad to see the Encyclopedia Brittanica in hard copy come to an end.  My wife still has the entire collection her parents bought her as a child.  I suppose she was right in keeping them even though I fussed that took up box space in my man cave garage.

Mar 14, 2012 10:05 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good evening Gary,

I too am sad to see the Encyclopedia Brittanica in hard copy come to an end. I think in today's worlds the only thing that is guaranteed is change :).

Mar 14, 2012 10:51 AM
Dee Mayers
Covina, CA
San Gabriel Valley, CA

It is better for the environment, and it saves space in our book shelves.  Britannica on CD Rom is just as good. We are moving into the paperless world—now that is change!

Mar 14, 2012 10:58 AM
Sidney Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula Kutchuk - Realty Works Temecula
Realty Works Temecula - Temecula, CA
Realty Works Temecula

I think it's a good idea!  Save the trees, and keep the updates more current!

Mar 14, 2012 11:48 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTORĀ®, EcoBroker, GREEN

It is an end of an era.  I gave away my 1964 set of World Books and Brittanica that I received in my Mom's estate.  It's kinda sad for those of us that remember that those books meant so much to us.  They WERE the info of their day.  Still, being a green realtor, it's good to save a few trees and the chemicals that are on those pages are toxic.  Oh well, this will go down as a story for our grandkids of the way things were. 

Mar 14, 2012 02:58 PM
Peggy Wester
Realty Executives Integrity - Grafton, WI
Real Estate Agent Ozaukee & Washington County

Gosh, I can see the old encyclopedia set sitting so neatly in the bookcase from when I was growing up. And how often did we go to those to research a school paper. Times sure have changed.

Mar 14, 2012 11:56 PM
Sondra Meyer:
EXP Realty, LLC - Corpus Christi, TX
See It. Experience It. Live It.

As an adult, I never purchased a set for my family.  However, your post reminds me of the fond memories of using the encyclopedias as a child.  This makes me want to go find a set for my home library.  

Mar 15, 2012 12:15 AM
Diane M. Phillips Realtor 443-286-4365
Frankly Real Estate Inc. - Manchester, MD
Specializing in Carroll Co., MD

Gary ~ Sad, however, not surprising. I too remember the neatly stacked encyclopedias on the bookshelf. Online has it's pros & cons.

Mar 15, 2012 01:25 AM
Cherise Selley
Selley Group Real Estate, LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Realtor

No doubt Gary.  I heard about Britannica on Sunday Morning News, I think.  The written word will probably be found on mobile devices rather than on parchment... g

Mar 15, 2012 03:40 AM
Eileen Hsu
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Manhattan, NY
LICENSED REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON

At my mom's house, we still have the Britannica collection from maybe 20 years ago... dusty!

Mar 15, 2012 05:04 AM
Kristine Ginsberg
Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC - Short Hills, NJ
NJ Home Stager

Gary - I'm such a dork, I have several Encyclopedia Britannica books and used to open a page each day and learn something new. While I'm always trying to learn more now I use the Internet, but I still love those books!

Mar 15, 2012 07:03 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

More great comments particularly those that even have the old set of reference books, dusty though they may be, STILL on the shelves. The world changes. Britannica, another clear example.

Mar 15, 2012 07:32 AM
Francine Viola
Coldwell Banker Evergreen Olympic Realty, Olympia WA - Olympia, WA
REALTORĀ®, In Tune with your Real Estate Needs

It is absolutely amazing the changes we've seen unfold in our lifetimes!  I feel like in the last 10 years, how we all go about our daily lives has dramatically changed.   

Mar 15, 2012 12:49 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Gary ---- long before wikipedia, I believe Encyclopedia Britannica had the opportunity to go online and decided against it -- it reminds me of so many similar stories of companies(or individuals) that can't(or won't or don't) accept a change that seems to be a choice and quickly becomes a must or die. 

Mar 17, 2012 01:47 AM
Patricia Aulson
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate - Exeter, NH
Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes

Hey this is true for sure.  Sad to say.  As always, thanks for posting.

 

 

 

Patricia Aulson/ Seacoast NH & ME REALTOR

Mar 20, 2012 02:21 AM
Laura Filip
Laura Filip Broker , Opening doors for All Seasons of Life - Whitesboro, TX
What can we do for you today?

Yes it is words mean different things depending on the part of the world you are in and or job that you are doing such as STD and CRS

At first glance on things Sexually Transmitted Disease but in the Real Estate World it means Substitute Trustes Deed

and CRS at first glance one thinks Can't remember Sh!! but in the Real Estate World it means Certified Residential Specialist

Proof right here the world is changing LOL

May 23, 2012 02:58 AM