The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion
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The future of print books
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I just came across this thread and haven't read all the posts and articles, so please forgive me if I'm repeating things. My input would be to PLEASE support print books at your public libraries. Are you aware that books not circulating for a certain period of time (2 years in my system) are culled from the collection? While we still get lots of new books, those that are purged - for condition or lack of circulation - are often not replaced, and our collection of print books diminishes every year to make room for more computers, STEM labs, meeting rooms, and other programs that have little to do with books. More and more, libraries in my state are relying on interlibrary loans (having a title sent from another county) rather than each county having a wide variety of titles within their own system. I will often check out the classics and other books I love for a day or two, just so they'll have circulated and won't end up on the purge list. And I've become a bit of a book hoarder because I'm afraid my future grandchildren won't otherwise know the pleasure of reading of the printed page.
I can not imagine a world where printed books are a rarity. Digital reading just doesn't replace the feel and smell of a real book and the memories that can be stored magically on one printed page. Books, especially old ones, are beautiful and noble and they hold secrets like good friends. I don't get that feeling with ebooks; I can't even stand to read them. If there is something I could do to help the printed word, I would certainly do it.
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I live in a college town so my local library keeps the classics available, but most likely cull from modern books.
Will the Classics Soon Go Out of Print? Some years ago I lost my copy of Anthony Trollope’s “The Last Chronicle of Barset” and I went to a bookstore to get a fresh copy. There were none on the shelves, but they eventually found me a copy. It cost about $ 15. A few months later I bought a Kindle and discovered that I could download the eBook version of this book for free.
There are voluntary, non-profit organisations that have uploaded 19th century and some early 20th century books into the internet that can be downloaded free. They are books in the public domain. You can even download free, audio versions of many of these books.
Though many might like to read off physical books, can they afford this luxury when eBooks are available for free? Hence, the demand for physical books that are in the public domain will diminish and it may become economically unfeasible for publishers to print these books.
Hence, the big question: will the classics soon go out of print?
Terrence wrote: "Though many might like to read off physical books, can they afford this luxury when eBooks are available for free? Hence, the demand for physical books that are in the public domain will diminish and it may become economically unfeasible for publishers to print these books."I'm afraid you're correct. I download a lot from Project Gutenberg, and am very grateful to have that access (and for others to have it as well), but nothing will replace a traditional book for me, or the pleasure I get from seeing all those wonderful classics waiting for me on my bookshelves.
E-readers that use liquid ink technology aren't lighted screens, but are the same to your eyes as the printed page (at least so says my eye doctor, and with my eye problems it's an important difference for me.) It's a whole different technology from cell phone, computer, tablet, or TV screens.