Initiatives
Norwegian Online Encyclopaedia
Store norske leksikon (Norway's leading encyclopaedia) transitioned from being a salient reference work found on the bookshelves of countless Norwegian homes to being a free online encyclopaedia in 2009. The Fritt Ord Foundation and the savings bank foundation Sparebankstiftelsen DNB took the initiative to continue Store norske leksikon (the Great Norwegian Encyclopaedia) , Norsk biografisk leksikon (Norwegian Biographical Encyclopaedia) and Store medisinske leksikon (The Great Medical Encyclopaedia) in summer 2010. The goal was to find a way in which signed encyclopaedia articles written by qualified experts could exist with a new online presence. The Fritt Ord Foundation allocated MNOK 16 for the project period.
"Since there were no public or private interests willing to take responsibility for a modern online encyclopaedia based on Store norske and its collateral works, we joined Sparebankstiftelsen DNB in securing the rights for the works from Kunnskapsforlaget publishing house and brought in other parties. It meant a great deal to the Fritt Ord Foundation that we had previously allocated about MNOK 25 to produce the Norwegian Biographical Encyclopaedia and MNOK 10 for the most recent paper edition of Store norske. We were quite simply concerned about ensuring continuity for this Norwegian encyclopaedia with a century of proud tradition. Given the need for alternative encyclopaedia formats and the importance of public debate about signed encyclopaedia articles written by qualified experts, the Fritt Ord Foundation Board gave its whole-hearted support for an online version of Store norske from day 1. Francis Sejersted has represented us on the Board from the very beginning", comments Erik Rudeng, executive director of the Fritt Ord Foundation.
Since the Fritt Ord Foundation joined the project, the number of visitors to Store norske has increased dramatically. In 2013, the website exceeded 100 000 visitors a day. The encyclopaedia has also engaged more than 400 active experts to update the works and write new articles. In 2012, these professionals wrote texts equivalent to 60 non-fiction books.
The three encyclopaedias are published by the organisation Store norske leksikon. The organisation was established in 2013 by the Fritt Ord, Foundation, Sparebankstiftelsen DNB, and the Norwegian Academy of Science. Even the Norwegian Non-Fiction Writers and Translators Association, the universities and IKT-Norge are represented in the board. Anne Marit Godal is Editor-in-chief, and Trond Andreassen is Chairman of the Board.
Norwegian Online Encyclopaedia
Store norske leksikon (Norway's leading encyclopaedia) transitioned from being a salient reference work found on the bookshelves of countless Norwegian homes to being a free online encyclopaedia in 2009. The Fritt Ord Foundation and the savings bank foundation Sparebankstiftelsen DNB took the initiative to continue Store norske leksikon (the Great Norwegian Encyclopaedia) , Norsk biografisk leksikon (Norwegian Biographical Encyclopaedia) and Store medisinske leksikon (The Great Medical Encyclopaedia) in summer 2010. The goal was to find a way in which signed encyclopaedia articles written by qualified experts could exist with a new online presence. The Fritt Ord Foundation allocated MNOK 16 for the project period.
"Since there were no public or private interests willing to take responsibility for a modern online encyclopaedia based on Store norske and its collateral works, we joined Sparebankstiftelsen DNB in securing the rights for the works from Kunnskapsforlaget publishing house and brought in other parties. It meant a great deal to the Fritt Ord Foundation that we had previously allocated about MNOK 25 to produce the Norwegian Biographical Encyclopaedia and MNOK 10 for the most recent paper edition of Store norske. We were quite simply concerned about ensuring continuity for this Norwegian encyclopaedia with a century of proud tradition. Given the need for alternative encyclopaedia formats and the importance of public debate about signed encyclopaedia articles written by qualified experts, the Fritt Ord Foundation Board gave its whole-hearted support for an online version of Store norske from day 1. Francis Sejersted has represented us on the Board from the very beginning", comments Erik Rudeng, executive director of the Fritt Ord Foundation.
Since the Fritt Ord Foundation joined the project, the number of visitors to Store norske has increased dramatically. In 2013, the website exceeded 100 000 visitors a day. The encyclopaedia has also engaged more than 400 active experts to update the works and write new articles. In 2012, these professionals wrote texts equivalent to 60 non-fiction books.
The three encyclopaedias are published by the organisation Store norske leksikon. The organisation was established in 2013 by the Fritt Ord, Foundation, Sparebankstiftelsen DNB, and the Norwegian Academy of Science. Even the Norwegian Non-Fiction Writers and Translators Association, the universities and IKT-Norge are represented in the board. Anne Marit Godal is Editor-in-chief, and Trond Andreassen is Chairman of the Board.
Initiatives