How We Read

[Holly]

This is an interesting new report from the National Endowment for the Humanities that compares those who read print only, those who read books electronically, and those who listen to audiobooks. Based on findings from 2017, the findings show that the number of people who read has not declined since 2012, but use of different media has changed. The short report states that "More than half of all U.S. adults (55 percent, or 132 million) did some form of book-reading in 2017,
whether via print, digital media, or listening to audiobooks.
Of all adult readers, more use digital/audio platforms than read print-only. For digital/audio readers,
the breakdown is:
• E-books (but not audiobooks): 50.6 percent
• E books and audiobooks: 35.6 percent
• Audiobooks (but not e-books): 13.8 percent"

Here is a link to the full report:

https://www.arts.gov/sites/default/fi...

[Audrey]

I use all platforms, print and digital and audio.

[Holly]

I do too. I listen to Eaudiobooks when I walk or do stuff like sewing where I need to use my hands. Sometimes I use books in my car, especially when I'm traveling with my family.

It would be interesting to do the survey now.

[Debbie]

Because of vision problems, I now prefer e-books, online books and audio books, although I keep a magnifying glass handy for books not available in digitized format. I'm glad I live in a time when there are so many sources for books.

[Brianon]

interesting! I usually prefer print books, but with a newborn it's much easier to read ebooks. I can hold the baby with one arm and my Kindle in the other!

With this virus quarantine and the libraries closed, I am so grateful for ebooks!

[Linda]

I prefer print books. But with the library closed I am learning to read the ebooks. It just isn't the same though.

[Elizabeth]

I like the convenience of ebooks, but mostly I just want the story, so I'll read in any format.

[Holly]

Yes, I agree with you there. The only time I don't really like using ebooks is when I want to sleep. I'm afraid the screen light will hamper with ability to fall asleep. I hear there are apps, though, to help with it. My devices, though, are kind of old, so I'm not sure if I can use them.

[Audrey]

My Kindle doesn't have a light. I do like being able to adjust the font size; I am needing that more.

[Karen]

Holly wrote: "Yes, I agree with you there. The only time I don't really like using ebooks is when I want to sleep. I'm afraid the screen light will hamper with ability to fall asleep. I hear there are apps, thou..."

The e-readers that have e-ink (I have a Nook Glowlight ) are much easier on the eyes to read in bed at night. Some of the newer ones will change the backlight to a cooler color too. I really love mine for reading at night. I also use the increase in font size which helps.

I love all the formats, I actually use e-books and audiobooks more than regular print. They are portable and with audio, I can do chores while I listen. The e-reader is lighter to use, especially at night while lying down.

[Debbie]

Holly wrote: "Yes, I agree with you there. The only time I don't really like using ebooks is when I want to sleep. I'm afraid the screen light will hamper with ability to fall asleep. I hear there are apps, thou..."

This can be a concern. The blue light issue really did not become well publicized until 2016 and in 2017 or 2018 (depending on the type) did notebooks, computers, phones, and e-readers begin to offer a built-in blue light filter. Now it is standard. Still, Holly, fat lot of good that does you with your older devices except to know it is a reasonable concern.

[Jess]

I am 100% paper. I have never really been a huge technology person. Always had a hard time focusing and seeing what was on the screens. I can actually see the fluctuations on the screens most people can't I guess. I can also see them in LED bulbs those thing are awful it's like being at a disco.

[Jess]

I also understand about the blue light. I suffer from chronic migraines so I actually wear a specially tinted lenses in my glasses every day to block out the blue. Best thing I have found yet for migraines.

[Elizabeth]

Jess,

I'm sorry about the migraines, but I'm glad that the glasses help. I have a couple friends who use the tinted lenses for their migraines and when they got them they were so excited. They still get migraines, but less often.

I'm also glad that we've got curbside going right now. That way you'll be able to pick up more books.

[Audrey]

My Kindle doesn't have a light. It's pretty easy on the eyes.

The tinted glasses help? I may have to try that. My migraines are turning from episodic to chronic just lately.

[Jess]

Audrey

YES!!!!! They help. I was diagnosed with chronic migraines some years ago. Before I got the glasses I had more days with migraines than without. My longest migraine lasting 14 days strait.
The tint is called FL41 and it is amazing. I learned about them from my sister who was working at Moran eye Center up at the U of U.
They cut my migraines down by 50% easily and the relief was instant. My sister also gets migraines and only wears her glasses when she gets them but I find if I wear them all the time I am much less likely to even get one to begin with. I don't know if you also suffer from light sensitivity but they help with that as well.

[Jess]

Thank you Elizabeth I actually found this group while I was lo king for info about the new pickup as I had only heard the tail end of the news story I read the books I had as slow as I could but eventually you hit the end 😁

[Audrey]

I get light sensitivity as the migraine progresses followed by sound sensitivity.

I just finished a drug trial for a preventive drug. I was on it for 15 months, and it was awesome. My migraines were reduced by about two-thirds, and the ones I had were pretty mild. I really miss it and can't wait for it to be on the market.

[Debbie]

I'll have to let my daughter know about the anti-migraine glasses. She really suffers. She's had some that took her out for 3 to 4 days. When you have a baby or a toddler, that's rough. Fortunately family lives close and can pitch in on a moment's notice.

[Audrey]

Yeah, it's really hard with a baby to take care of. One time my toddler saw me lying down with a migraine and went and got his favorite blanket and wrapped it around me. It was sweet. (He's grown now.)

I think Wasatch Clinical Research is still doing various migraine drug trials, if anyone wants to look into that.

[Debbie]

Thank you Audrey. I'll pass that on, too.

[Holly]

Good to know about the glasses! I will pass that on to my daughter as well--she gets migraines. I love how everyone helps each other out here!

[Elizabeth]

Jess wrote: "Thank you Elizabeth I actually found this group while I was lo king for info about the new pickup as I had only heard the tail end of the news story I read the books I had as slow as I could but ev..."

If you still need the info, here's our curbside info:
https://www.slcolibrary.org/events/fe...

[Jess]

Thank you Elizabeth for the link. I now have a new book to read