New encyclopaedia “not frivolous”

Press, 19 February 1986, Page 22

New encyclopaedia “not frivolous”

A new encyclopaedia released this week was not a “frivolous publication” although it was being produced in 52 weekly parts, said its editor-in-chief, Mr Gordon McLauchlan.

The “Encyclopaedia of New Zealand” was designed to be affordable to most people in New Zealand while not compromising its quality, he said.

It would not have been possible to produce it in any other way. The work contained just over one million words. It would have been split into two volumes and cost about $2OO per set if it was not sold as a partwork. Few people would have been able to afford two heavy, bound volumes. Market research had shown the encyclopaedia

would reach five times as many people if sold in weekly parts, he said.

It “walked a delicate balance” between being “pop” and not being taken seriously and being too expensive. Mr McLauchlan believes the result has been an encyclopaedia which will be accessible to a wide variety of people but does not compromise on accuracy.

Mr McLauchlan has spent two years writing, editing, and planning the encyclopaedia. The work was done on a word processor, equipment he considered vital to the project.

“It would have been impossible to do without a word processor. It would not have been economically viable otherwise; we would have had to have

large teams of people.” Mr McLauchlan sought the help of about 30 specialists on subjects * such as art, sport, architecture, feminism, and geology, to provide t material. He also consuited many reference « books, such as biographical dictionaries, year books, and the three- i: volume 1966 Government- n produced “Encyclopaedia c of New Zealand.” o Information on New ” Zealand was “virtually in- ° finite,” said Mr McLauch- 2 lan. Some people would J undoubtedly feel some , topics had been left out or not given enough emphar ’ sis, but the work would cover almost every aspect ’ of New Zealand’s life and, 5 peopje, both historical and “f l; contemporary. V;