Encyclopaedias: questions and Band 8 answers

Yes, fairly often, though mostly digital ones. Whenever I come across a historical event or a scientific term I'm not familiar with, I'll quickly check an online encyclopaedia. Just the other day, I was reading about ancient Roman architecture and spent half an hour browsing through various entries.

We did, actually. My parents bought a huge, multi-volume set with dark blue hardcovers that sat proudly on our living room bookshelf. As a kid, I loved flicking through the pages just to look at the colourful maps and animal illustrations, even before I could read properly.

To be honest, I definitely lean towards digital versions nowadays. They're just so much more convenient because you can search for a keyword instantly and follow hyperlinks to related subjects. Having an enormous volume of knowledge right on my mobile phone simply beats carrying around heavy paper books.

I'm really drawn to world history and astronomy. I find it fascinating to read detailed overviews of ancient civilisations or deep space exploration. A few weeks ago, I got completely lost in an entry about the solar system and ended up reading about distant moons for hours.

I don't think they'll vanish entirely, but they'll probably become collector's items rather than practical reference tools. Most people rely on the internet for up-to-date facts, so traditional sets will likely be kept only by libraries or vintage book enthusiasts who appreciate their aesthetic value.