Ebooks v ‘real’ books
I’m thinking about this as I’m about to offer one of mine, Gagfest UK, on Createspace. I can appreciate the tactile appeal of turning pages but as long as people, especially young people, want to read, I don’t think it matters how.
What’s interesting perhaps is that in the history of ‘delivery systems’, key drivers have been drugs and porn. There are parallels to learn for books here. Like the drugs model, free samples to get you hooked or permafree offers for the first instalment of a serial seems to be the way to go for ebook authors.
Where budgets allow, libraries should carry e-books. If we want our youngsters to read, we have to accept that when they leave the house, they are usually carrying a mobile device rather than a paperback shoved in their back pocket. Since this ‘portal to literacy’ is already in many young hands, it seems incumbent upon us to use it rather than bewail the imminent demise of Barnes & Noble. Getting all nostalgic over vinyl won’t stop downloads.
What’s interesting perhaps is that in the history of ‘delivery systems’, key drivers have been drugs and porn. There are parallels to learn for books here. Like the drugs model, free samples to get you hooked or permafree offers for the first instalment of a serial seems to be the way to go for ebook authors.
Where budgets allow, libraries should carry e-books. If we want our youngsters to read, we have to accept that when they leave the house, they are usually carrying a mobile device rather than a paperback shoved in their back pocket. Since this ‘portal to literacy’ is already in many young hands, it seems incumbent upon us to use it rather than bewail the imminent demise of Barnes & Noble. Getting all nostalgic over vinyl won’t stop downloads.
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