October 20, 1999
Web posted at: 4:41 PM EDT (2041 GMT)

(CNN) -- Worldwide visitors swamped Encyclopaedia Britannica's Web site on the first day the reference was made available for free, leaving the site still blocked today for most users.

The retooled site received millions of hits Tuesday after the Chicago-based publisher said it was putting all 32 volumes and 44 million words on the Internet, gratis. The site also includes daily news and links to related sites.

"We're a victim of our own success," said Jorge Cauz, senior vice president for sales and marketing of Britannica.com Inc.

After the initial rush tied up the site, it functioned normally overnight but became clogged again early today as Americans woke up and sat down at their computers, Cauz said.

Extra staff and computer hardware were being deployed and the problem was expected to be cleared up within 48 hours, according to a Britannica spokesman.

Don Yannias, CEO of Britannica.com, released a note of apology to users.

"In many ways, we have truly been victims of our own success. We knew that the site would attract a significant number of users in its first day of operation, but we had no idea that this volume of traffic would be achieved so quickly. In spite of the problems that we are experiencing, we are encouraged by the high demand for Britannica.com, and believe that you will soon find the site to be the best source for information on the Internet."

Britannica has seen sales of its printed sets decline an estimated 80 percent since peaking at about $650 million in 1990 as knowledge-seekers turn to computer versions, primarily Microsoft's Encarta. It is counting on advertising, sponsorship and e-commerce to make the risky move pay off.

The encyclopedia set was first published in 1768 in Scotland. It was introduced in the United States in 1888 and has been based in Chicago for 65 years.

It is still available in the printed version, at $1,250 per set, as well as on CD-ROM.

Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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