Donate

Library science

A painted portrait of Christopher Columbus' son, Hernando Colón,

Christopher Columbus’ son’s universal library is newly rediscovered in this lost tome

Books

Hernando Colón was the illegitimate son of famed explorer Christopher Columbus. His love of books inspired him to attempt an ambitious dream: store all of the world’s books in one place. He summarized much of the information in his “Libro de los Epítomes,” which has recently been rediscovered.

Information overload existed for millennia says historian

Environment

New Digital Public Library of America seeks to increase accessibility to treasured works

Environment

Big shift in copyright law effective in new year changes rights for artists

Arts, Culture & Media

Digital books replacing print in schools

Environment
Tell us about your experience accessing The World

We want to hear your feedback so we can keep improving our website, theworld.org. Please fill out this quick survey and let us know your thoughts (your answers will be anonymous). Thanks for your time!

The Half-Life of Facts

Scientometrics is the science of measuring science. It’s the invention of mathematician Derek de Solla Price. Sixty-five years ago, he was asked to store a complete set of “The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society” in his house. The stacks for each year’s volumes, he noticed, got bigger and bigger. On inspection, he noticed that […]

What’s Lost as Encyclopaedia Britannica Ends Print Editions?

Arts, Culture & Media

Encyclopaedia Britannica has announced that after 244 years, it will no longer publish new print editions. The World’s Alex Gallafent visits a library to find out what’s being lost.

John Hockenberry Reports from London: Encyclopedia Britannica to Stop Print Editions

After 244 years, the oldest continually published encyclopedia in the English language, the Encyclopedia Britannica, is going out of print. The encyclopedia will now be focused on its online edition and educational curricula for schools.  John Hockenberry  reports from London, where he spoke with the encyclopedia’s managing editor  Ian Grant.

Library Access to E-books Worries Publishers

While e-books are extremely convenient for readers, their proliferation is causing more financial problems for the already  beleaguered  publishing industry. A growing number of people with e-readers want to borrow e-books from their local libraries. But publishers, selling the electronic manuscripts at record highs, are wary of letting libraries loan them out.   Sean Corcoran is senior reporter […]

The World

2010 Librarian of the Year on the Library of the Future

Arts, Culture & Media

Louisville, Kentucky’s library director, Craig Buthod, has reinvented the libraries into community education centers and developed a program that combines student IDs, bus tickets and library cards. He is the 2010 Librarian of the Year.

We respect your time, attention and privacy

This is a news website, not a click casino. We do NOT employ deceptive behaviors, display annoying ads or use third party cookies and trackers to monetize your visit or help advertisers track you across the internet.

Simply, we ask that you would consider a donation to support the journalism we produce every weekday. Thank you.

This is The World

The World is a public radio program and podcast that crosses borders and time zones to bring home the stories that matter.

Follow The World

Subscribe to The World’s Latest Edition podcast for free using your favorite podcast player: