The high-speed, technological generation of the 21st century needed a more efficient, easily accessible way to research than a set of their parents' old encyclopedias. Wikipedia, an online version of its printed predecessor, solved that problem when it became available in early 2001. As of November 2006, more than 1.5 million entries can be accessed from the site.

Last August, Kansas high school student Charlotte Lane decided to rebel against that clunky dinosauric relic of the 20th century, the encyclopedia. She created the group "Everything I Ever Need to Know, I Can Learn on Wikipedia" on Facebook.

Lane realized that she spent a lot of time on Wikipedia and usually finds more than she needs on a given subject. However, she was surprised at the number of people who shared her sentiments about the site.

"The day after I created the group, before I sent invites to my friends, I already had a few people I did not know in the group," Lane said. "I'm just amazed as to how many people have joined."

In the past five months, more than 2,400 people have become members. Since mid-December at least 400 new members have joined.

Sophomore Angeline Candido has been a member since September when she stumbled across the group one night while putting off writing a paper. She said that now instead of using Facebook as a procrastination method, she uses Wikipedia.

"I feel like our generation is always looking for the quickest way to something, including information," Candido explained. "Instead of researching at the library or even reading the novel assigned to us in class, we can just look it up on Wikipedia."

Lane said she has received a positive response to the creation of the group.

"One of my friends dubbed me his hero when he found out that I was the creator of the group," she said.

Despite the site's popularity with students, some teachers and professors won't count it as a valid source on papers because Wikipedia is arranged so that anyone can edit the entries and add information. On many of the subjects, however, there are citations from other sources, which increase the credibility of parts of the site.

Evidence of the debate on whether Wikipedia is a valid source takes place on the group's wall. Students across the country have weighed in on personal experiences, ranging from one student's post that, after asking for clarification on a problem, his professor sent him a link to the site, to other students who claim their instructors won't allow a citation from it.

In addition, the wall is full of admiration for the site as people credit Wikipedia for increasing their knowledge on widespread topics. The site has entries ranging from Angelina Jolie to algebraic equations and Gettysburg to guavas. It is also praised for being a handy tool for procrastination and a fun way to spend six hours.

"I turn to Wikipedia with any sort of question I have, whether it be a confusing topic in lecture or figuring out who that fifth member of 'N Sync was," Candido said. "Wikipedia is literally this all-knowing Yoda-like source."

Reach columnist Abby Walker at abbywalker@thedaily.washington.edu