Getting Started

Welcome to Encyclopµdia Britannica Student Library CD. Use this powerful resource to search or browse for information in two encyclopedias, hundreds of magazines, thousands of Web sites, video clips, plus a dictionary and thesaurus.  

To begin:

  1. Install the program.

  2. Register your copy of the program.

  3. Adjust your computer to optimize use of the program.

  4. Set preferences for reading articles, if you wish.

  5. Begin exploring!

Find out what's new:

If you are a previous Britannica CD/DVD owner, you'll notice some exciting changes in this edition. Learn more...

Choose a Library:

Encyclopµdia Britannica Student Library CD (or Britannica) includes two content Libraries. Choose a Library based on your reading level or how much information you want.

Intermediate level: plenty of information for most students' needs. Learn more...

Easiest level: shorter, easy-to-read encyclopedia articles for younger learners. Learn more...

Each Library provides an encyclopedia and:

Look up definitions, pronunciations, word histories, synonyms, and antonyms. Use the Control Panel to search for words in the dictionary.

Find appropriate alternate words and express yourself with precision by looking up words in the thesaurus.

Thousands of images (photographs, illustrations, diagrams, maps, etc.) accompany the articles in each encyclopedia. Focus on images in your search results or discover them as you browse.

Find hundreds of video clips, sound clips, and multimedia presentations as you search and browse. The two Libraries share some of the multimedia, but if multimedia is your interest, be sure to look in both!

When reading an article, the Online Search link inside of the Featured Content box will launch your default browser to a page containing:

Your search term will be used to find articles in selected magazines available online. The magazines differ based on the Library you select.

Your search term will be used to find video clips in a large database of Britannica-selected video footage available online.

We sift through thousands of Web sites so you don't have to! Your search term will be used to find results from our indexed Web site database. Each Web site has been reviewed and rated for relevancy by Britannica editors.