If you’re a bibliophile, you likely dream about having your own private library brimming with thousands of books. For many, this isn’t a possibility due to space, money or other logistics. However, with the advent of the e-reader, having your own library is no longer a dream. While it might not be the same as physically seeing all of your books, you can easily amass thousands of e-books on your Kindle or Nook.
Although there are some avid readers who refuse to go digital, many more have embraced the -reader. In fact, around 27 percent of adults have read an e-book in the past year. This number increases to 43 percent when you include other content like magazines, journals and news articles. Like other technological advances, the e-reader brings with it many changes, not only to the world of publishing but to our reading habits as well. It has changed how and where we read. It has even changed the way our homes look. For better or worse, the e-reader is here to stay.
Although there are some avid readers who refuse to go digital, many more have embraced the -reader. In fact, around 27 percent of adults have read an e-book in the past year. This number increases to 43 percent when you include other content like magazines, journals and news articles. Like other technological advances, the e-reader brings with it many changes, not only to the world of publishing but to our reading habits as well. It has changed how and where we read. It has even changed the way our homes look. For better or worse, the e-reader is here to stay.
Easy Portability
One of the biggest advantages of an e-reader is its portability. While you can certainly carry books with you when you travel, you’ll quickly weigh down your bags and fill up precious luggage space. With an e-reader you can carry hundreds of books with you without the added weight or space requirement. Even better, you get instant access to millions of books. Rather than going to a bookstore and waiting in line, with a few taps you can get books like The Doll’s House instantaneously. You can even avoid biggest drawback of digital books—geo-restrictions—by using reliable Virtual Private Network services such as ExpressVPN.
At the same time, relying solely on a digital device when traveling has its downside. You have to worry about carrying a charger with you at all times to keep the battery charged. In other parts of the world, you’ll also have to buy an adapter to match the proper voltage. Unlike a physical book, you’ll need to turn off the device when your plane takes off or lands.
At the same time, relying solely on a digital device when traveling has its downside. You have to worry about carrying a charger with you at all times to keep the battery charged. In other parts of the world, you’ll also have to buy an adapter to match the proper voltage. Unlike a physical book, you’ll need to turn off the device when your plane takes off or lands.
Greater Accessibility
There’s no doubt you can find good deals on paperbacks if you scour garage sales, but there’s no better deal than free. Most digital bookstores have a huge selection of free e-books from aspiring authors to books now available in the public domain. If you’re a fan of the classics, you can browse sites like Project Gutenberg for your favorites. The best part is you can download most of these books on your smartphone or tablet.
Of course, you don’t need an e-reader to take advantage of free books. So long as you have a local library, you can easily check out physical and digital books.
While e-readers do offer one form of accessibility, they also take away another: book sharing. It’s difficult to share digital books with friends. One of the greatest joys for many readers is being able to pass on a great book to friends and family. The problem is that you don’t actually own a digital book. Instead you have the license for them. Should the publisher or service provider decide to revoke this license, you can potentially lose access to all of your books.
Of course, you don’t need an e-reader to take advantage of free books. So long as you have a local library, you can easily check out physical and digital books.
While e-readers do offer one form of accessibility, they also take away another: book sharing. It’s difficult to share digital books with friends. One of the greatest joys for many readers is being able to pass on a great book to friends and family. The problem is that you don’t actually own a digital book. Instead you have the license for them. Should the publisher or service provider decide to revoke this license, you can potentially lose access to all of your books.
A Customizable Reading Experience
There might be some print books you can purchase in larger font, but e-readers give you full control over the font size and style and even line spacing of the text you’re reading. This makes it perfect for people who have eyesight problems or learning disabilities. Even those who do not suffer from these issues enjoy it because it makes their reading experience personalized.
Many e-readers also offer a built-in dictionary and a highlighting option to make it easier to go back to certain passages.
According to studies, the average e-book reader actually completes more books than those who only read print. Not only that, they also spend more time reading. This change in reading habits is likely due to overall ease of access. With a digital format, you can literally read anywhere, whether waiting in line or during a lunch break.
The downside of this is that people are generally reading in shorter bursts. This makes it harder to recall and absorb the actual events in the story. So even if people are reading more, it doesn’t equate to better understanding.
The rise of digital books doesn’t signal the death of paper. In fact, paperback sales have increased 2.8 percent. Many people prefer physical books to digital ones for specific genres such as nonfiction, children’s books and textbooks. So while a private library might have shrunk for many homes, there will still be a bookcase, comfortable chair and a warm cup of tea or coffee to enjoy while reading.
Which format do you prefer: e-book or physical copy? What are some of the advantages you feel one has over the other?
Many e-readers also offer a built-in dictionary and a highlighting option to make it easier to go back to certain passages.
According to studies, the average e-book reader actually completes more books than those who only read print. Not only that, they also spend more time reading. This change in reading habits is likely due to overall ease of access. With a digital format, you can literally read anywhere, whether waiting in line or during a lunch break.
The downside of this is that people are generally reading in shorter bursts. This makes it harder to recall and absorb the actual events in the story. So even if people are reading more, it doesn’t equate to better understanding.
The rise of digital books doesn’t signal the death of paper. In fact, paperback sales have increased 2.8 percent. Many people prefer physical books to digital ones for specific genres such as nonfiction, children’s books and textbooks. So while a private library might have shrunk for many homes, there will still be a bookcase, comfortable chair and a warm cup of tea or coffee to enjoy while reading.
Which format do you prefer: e-book or physical copy? What are some of the advantages you feel one has over the other?
 | About the Author: Cassie is an entertainment and tech blogger. She loves reading, and while she does have overflowing bookshelves at home, she also loves how e-readers have helped make reading a popular hobby again. |
