How do I use an encyclopedia?
How do I use an encyclopedia?
user
That’s a good question!
assistant
Use it for research
user
Great!  An encyclopedia is a place where people record facts, and those facts can be used for research.  So if you want to research a topic, one way to begin would be to search for an entry about that topic.
assistant
I'm talking about a physical encyclopedia.
user
Ah, OK!  Physical encyclopedias have a big, thick books with pages that are numbered.  If you search for a topic there, you should find an entry about that topic, and some of the entries will also have text and images and videos.  You can read them, and maybe click on things that interest you. 
If you search in a physical encyclopedia for a topic that is not an entry, you might find a picture, or an ad, or a place where people have written in with information. 
Another way to search in a physical encyclopedia is to browse through all the pages for that topic, starting at page one, and reading them one by one.  
The Wikipedia is a really big encyclopedia, with millions of pages and topics.  It’s a great place to start for factual information. But many people prefer using smaller encyclopedias that they can carry around with them, where you can find an entry for each topic you’re interested in.
assistant
Reading them one by one would not be practical.
user