My students recently had an assignment to write about ereaders. They were supposed to discuss what effect Digital Rights Management has on ebooks and piracy and the ethics of tethering consumers to a particular ebook format based on their choice of ereader. While most of them did a pretty good job on it, quite a few seemed to come away from the assignment with the misconception that obe format had to be the "winner", that owning an ereader would mean that the consumer would somehow be restricted from ever reading a paper book again.
Does one format have to win?
In my opinion, the answer is no, not at all. This isn't a situation where a person has to swear off one format in favor of the other: the two formats can co-exist happily. According to the study referenced in the graphic linked above, eighty-five percent of ereader owners continue to purchase print books. The ebook readers I know personally have not decreased their usage of the local library systems, either. Quite a few of the librarians I know own ereaders.
What are some of the reasons why a person might own and ereader but also use the local library systems and/or purchase paper copies of books?
Ereaders are a great way to take your entire library on the go. You can vacation with dozens or hundreds of book options at your fingertips and the weight and displacement in your luggage is comparable to a single paperback.
While on that vacation, suppose you want to buy a new book? You can download sample chapters before plunking down the full purchase price. Suppose you really, really like that new book. Next, suppose that you have the opportunity to meet the author. Lots easier for that author to sign your hardcover or paperback copy.
Most places I find myself are very friendly to using an ereader: home, work, school, doctors' waiting rooms, checkout lines... Have you ever finished a book at the doctor's office? With my Kindle,
Sometimes, however, I like to read in places that might not be very friendly to high-tech electronics. How about reading while soaking in a hot bath. Accidentally dropping your favorite paperback into the soup runs you about ten bucks in replacement costs. I won't risk my $100+ ereader in the same environment. Long, hot baths might not be your thing but maybe you like to float on a raft in the pool or sit on the sand at the beach with a good book. Neither of those locales is very friendly to electronic readers either. Yes, I know I could buy one of these
Not all books in print are available in ebook format. How many times have you discovered a new author but that "new" author has already written a long list of books in a series. Ebook technology is new. Many authors' backlists have not yet been made available electronically. Every other week someone posts a question on Amazon's
I think mos people are like me in that they have read two kinds of books: those they fully intend to reread and those they do not. Have you ever read a book to gain some particular knowledge or because someone you know said "you really should read this"? If you are not sure that you are going to like a book enough to justify buying a copy, you can borrow one from the local library (or a friend) for free.
This is just a short list of some reasons why ereader owners continue to read and buy paper books. Ebooks need not spell doom for the print industry.
Think about this: when Gutenberg invented the printing press, books became much more freely and cheaply available. There were probably plenty of monks who were scandalized that a machine could print books faster and cheaper than they could transcribe them. I imagine that there were scriptoria all over Europe where the brothers wept and commiserated that mass-produced books were the first sign of a literary apocalypse, that books would become devalued once they were in the grubby hands of the common man.
For centuries, books were printed with hardcovers. Can't you just see the highly educated intelligensia of the 1930s howling that books were becoming devalued when paperbacks hit the shelves of the local five and dime stores?
Ereaders have entered the scene many years later but aren't they simply another evolution in the history of the written word?
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How funny, I just had this discussion with someone else over the weekend. I love my Nook, and I will read it in the tub, but not in the pool. The ppol is for paperbacks that will dry out if I accidentally drop them. It saves a tremendous amount of weight in luggage when traveling and its much easier to store.
Of course, I'm the contrarian here. :) I can't remember the last time I went to the library. Months and months ago... I have paper books languishing in stacks because I so much prefer reading ebooks.
Interesting thoughts. I have looked at my books recently and decided to cull quite a few as I am fed up with dusting them :) I haven't managed to get an ereader yet although the Kindle does look attractive and pao has an ipad. I'm trying to support our local library which is endangered at the moment because of cut backs!
We too had a discussion with a young college student over the weekend about how she would never, ever buy an ereader and would not be happy if someone else bought her one either. Her mind was so closed I couldn't believe it. It made me very sad. She could not concede that carrying many books for the size and weight of one was a valid argument for any circumstance. She actually thought one should back several books for vacation. *sigh*
When my Kindle was new I rarely used the library or read a print book. I have been using the library again. Mostly for non-fiction titles and a couple of those I think I would prefer on my Kindle for the searchability of my notes and highlighting. I will admit that my print fiction has not been getting much love yet. But, my Kindle is only a few months old. There is time :-)
I adore my little Kobo, even if it wasn't my first choice as a reader. It is easy to carry and a godsend when I simply need-need-need to read the next book in a series! Nothing against paper...I still read the "real" books. But if you are a fast reader and always need content, ebooks are the way to go, IMHO.
And I can use my ereader to store pdf docs (recipes and patterns) or check out library material!!!
Hey! I wanted to let you know I could do this!! You should post more.
ILY,NG
It is great to have some of the things I think about this subject written out so concisely!!
Recently there was an article somewhere about people relaxing about "sacredness" of books, people using them as art, cutting them up for art etc. There is a trend in card making and scrapbooking to use "vintage" books as a media to die cut etc. I have very mixed feeling on that, can't bring myself to do it.
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