The Lincoln Library of Essential Information was originally published as a one-volume general-reference work, in 1924. In later years, it was published in two- and three-volume editions, and the title was changed. A "supermarket edition" of the Lincoln Library was published in 1969 in 14 slim volumes under the title Encyclopedia of World Knowledge, but this was quickly discontinued. In 1978 the encyclopedia expanded to three volumes and was rebranded the New Lincoln Library Encyclopedia, however this was discontinued in 1981 and the set went back to its old name and a two volume only format.