Calling us “this year’s notable high achiever” in their annual survey of brand equity, researchers in the United Kingdom today named Encyclopaedia Britannica a “superbrand” by virtue of its reputation among consumers.

The survey, carried out by the Centre for Brand Analysis on behalf of Superbrands UK, looked at 1,400 brands and canvassed more than 2,000 consumers to arrive at a list of the most respected businesses, based on perceptions of their products’ quality, reliability, and distinction.

The results: Britannica finished 10th among the 500 brands ranked. Here’s the Top 10 list:

1. Microsoft
2. Rolex
3. Google
4. British Airways
5. BBC
6. Mercedes-Benz
7. Coca-Cola
8. Lego
9. Apple
10. Encyclopaedia Britannica

You can read more from the BBC and The Bookseller. Details at Superbrands UK.

Calling it one of the “must-have” products for the fall, School Library Journal has just named Britannica Online School Edition one of the “10 Best Digital Resources” for 2009. Take it away, SLJ:

“Britannica Online School Edition has tipped the scales of online encyclopedias by including four different products within their Online School Edition. . . . With the addition of this latest product, Britannica has expanded their encyclopedic line to reach every user at every level, while still providing educators with Teacher Resources, additional learning materials, digital images, video clips, maps, and much more. It only takes a few minutes of online research (or maybe some interactive fun) within any of the Britannica modules to discover why this online encyclopedia has advanced to the head of the class.”

BOLSE is Encyclopaedia Britannica’s comprehensive, curriculum-aligned online service for pre-K through grade 12. Go here to read the entire review by Professor Shonda Brisco of Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, and to see the other products on the list. Schools and school districts interested in School Edition can call 800-621-3900 or go here for more information.

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Note: If you publish regularly on the Web, as a blogger, writer, webmaster, or what have you, you’re probably eligible for a free subscription to Britannica Online, which will make it easy for you to link to Britannica articles you want to share with your readers. We call it the Britannica’s WebShare program. Details here. Apply here.

For years middle schools throughout the United States have used Mathematics in Context (MiC) as their primary curriculum.  A program for grades 6-8 published by Encyclopaedia Britannica, it was developed jointly at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Utrecht, and funded in part, let us not neglect to mention, by the National Science Foundation.

Today we’re moving ahead with some enhancements to the MiC program, in a project where we’ll team up with The Math Forum @ Drexel University to provide teacher training and professional development for teachers who use the MiC curriculum. Details in our news release.

And if this interests you, perhaps you’d also like to take a look at our math curriculum for grades 1-6, Britannica SmartMath. News release on that here.

Oh, yes, and MiC has helped students in Philadelphia boost their math scores.

______________________________
Note: If you publish regularly on the Web, as a blogger, writer, webmaster, or what have you, you’re probably eligible for a free subscription to Britannica Online, which will make it easy for you to link to Britannica articles you want to share with your readers. We call it the Britannica’s WebShare program. Details here. Apply here.

Thanks to the diligent sleuthing of an Sedona, Arizona, archivist, a series of classic conversations about the art of reading, between the late philosopher Mortimer J. Adler and his acolyte Charles Van Doren, are once again available on video from Encyclopaedia Britannica and the Center for the Study of The Great Ideas.

The discussions between the two public intellectuals, produced by Britannica in the 1970s, were lost for many years until they were rediscovered recently by Ken Dzugan, archivist for the Center. They’re now available on a single DVD and may be ordered online at http://www.thegreatideas.org/HowToReadABook.htm.

Titled “How to Read a Book,” the video was originally produced in conjunction with the third edition of Adler’s classic book of that title, published in 1972 and coauthored by Van Doren. The book’s first edition was a runaway best seller when it was published in 1940.

After going out of print many years ago, the original videotaped product of the Adler-Van Doren conversations disappeared from Britannica’s records. It would have languished in eternal obscurity had it not been for Dzugan’s pluck. After getting a tip from Center member Steve Rossiter, Dzugan searched through an international database of library holdings, located a library that had the original videotapes, borrowed them and approached Britannica, seeking permission to reproduce them. . . .

Read the rest of the story in the press release.

Many thanks to Hiawatha Bray of the Boston Globe for this story today about Britannica’s new editorial-feedback feature.

This is the most popular Britannica video available online. Does this tell us anything about human nature?

I hope you won’t begrudge us a bit of crowing over the fact that Britannica SmartMath has just been named a finalist for the 2009 Codie Awards.  The Codie is the most covetted honor in the information publishing business, and, well, we covet it.  We’re only human.

Besides, Britannica SmartMath is new, and it’s nice to see a new product win praise.

SmartMath is an engaging, interactive program consisting of more than 35,000 practice questions that together form an integrated curriculum correlated to educational standards. It combines questions and activities with some very cute avatars to individualize student learning.  More about it here. 

You can see all the Codie finalists here.

As always, schools interested in Britannica SmartMath or any of our products can go to http://info.eb.com or call 1-800-621-3900.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., issued this news release earlier this week.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Britannica Publishes “The American Presidency”

Chief executives from Washington to Obama covered
in full-color volume for K-12 students 

CHICAGO, February 16, 2009—Compton’s by Britannica, an imprint of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., has just published The American Presidency, a lavishly illustrated volume with extensive coverage of every president of the United States from George Washington to Barack Obama.

The book, written and designed for students ages 10-17, contains an extensive profile of each president that includes a detailed biography, the president’s signature, the name of his vice president, a profile of the first lady, and a timeline of his life and career.

Other features describe the Cabinet, the White House, how presidents are elected, historical election results, the presidential flag, and the presidential seal and its history. With over 175 images, 43 timelines, and 33 world events maps, the book provides a rich journey through U.S. history.

It also includes an introductory essay on the presidency by Thomas J. Craughwell, a presidential scholar and author of “Stealing Lincoln’s Body.”

“The beginning of a new presidency is a good time to call students’ attention to the institution, its history, and the many different men who have held the office,” said Michael Ross, a senior vice president at Encyclopaedia Britannica. “This up-to-date book does it in a way students will enjoy—with clear writing, vivid pictures, and excellent special features.”

The American Presidency is priced at $29.95. Schools and libraries interested in it or any of Britannica’s products may call 1-800-621-3900 or go to http://info.eb.com.

About Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. is a leader in educational publishing. The company’s encyclopedias and other products can be found in many media, from the Internet to cell phones to books. A pioneer in electronic publishing since the early 1980s, the company also still publishes the 32-volume Encyclopaedia Britannica, along with educational online services such as Britannica SmartMath and Britannica Online School Edition and new printed products such as Britannica Illustrated Science Library. Britannica’s editorial operation is overseen by some of the world’s most distinguished scholars. The company makes its headquarters in Chicago.

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Contact:
Tom Panelas
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
312-347-7309
tpanelas@eb.com