ebooks ~ What happens to the library?

[Stephanie]

I was reading through another thread where someone was asking about ereaders, and I can't help but wonder what would happen to libraries if books became obsolete? There seems to be a new generation of authors who aren't putting out paper books any more. Someone mentioned in the other thread that this seems to give authors permission to publish a lot of crappy writing because they are hurrying to get the books online. What do you think? Personally, I can't imagine a world without paper books and a library! (I put this under this book because the other discussions I've read under this book were at least some what meaningful and thought out...)

[Amy]

I don't think libraries will ever completely die out because I don't think eBooks will 100% take over printed books. Especially children's books. It would require everyone to have a color eReader in order to read picture books, and I don't think that will happen. Schools wouldn't be able to afford to buy every student an eReader so they can read. Also, libraries lend eBooks, so they would still be around to do that. I believe at some point people will hit a threshold with the amount that technology takes over the world. I have the Nook simple touch and love it, but I'll still pick up a printed book, especially if my library doesn't have the eBook version. I've only bought 3 books on my Nook - the rest have been library lends, and I still read printed books more than eBooks. If my choice is between paying for the Nook book or lending the printed version, I'll lend the printed version and save myself the money.

[Angela]

As a library assistant who also owns a Kobo ereader I feel confident that libraries will go on and won't become redundant. Although novels are nice to read on an ereader I have found that reading a non-fiction book is a completely different matter. Perhaps it's the way I like to read a non-fiction book, but I like to be able to flick back and forth through the book, looking at the pictures and continually referring back to things. This is virtually impossible to do on an ereader, you just can't flick through quickly to find the section you want to see.
Also, although my county's selection of library books is vast, there are still millions of books that we cannot stock. This is where I find my ereader very useful. I can trawl the internet until I find the book I want and then download it to my reader. With the best will in the world, my library is never going to be able to stock everything. If my library has the book I want, then I borrow it from there. If it doesn't then I try and get it electronically.
I'm not overly worried about libraries and their futures.

[Amy]

Tirzah wrote: "Amy wrote: "I don't think libraries will ever completely die out because I don't think eBooks will 100% take over printed books. Especially children's books. It would require everyone to have a col..."

If I wasn't an English teacher, I'd want to work in a library too :) In fact, I'm still considering a career change...

[Dee]

the problem is that many of the libraries i've visited over the last few years are getting fewer and fewer books and having more computers for people to use and DVD's etc to borrow, which is kind of disappointing in itself

[Kim]

The original Nook only won me over because of the display still being the feel of reading a book, so I could bring tons of books around with me wherever I go, and wouldn't need the space for them. If you look at all of the new versions of the Nook and Kindle (and iPad for that matter) the screen reads like a computer screen, and reading is more of a second-hand option for users (even the Kindle Fire lists all the features, and then says "for reading too, of course" at the end). They are now in competition for the iPad to be the best new tablet. I wouldn't buy one if I was just beginning to look for an E reader and that was all I found because you will get eye strain from reading a computer screen. I know I'm not the only one that holds that opinion, either.

There are still tons of people that prefer to have a book to an ereader too, and they will rant about the topic so I think regular books are fine. E books cost basically as much, if not more, than a print book anyways. You don't save any money once you factor in the cost of the device and any accessories.

Libraries will never become obsolete. They can be pillars for the community on top of simply being a building for books. Most provide free internet access and help for those in need of guidance for research. They also keep things like encyclopedias and other collections of books that people couldn't afford to buy themselves. They're a relatively free source for knowledge for everyone, especially for those that can't afford consistent internet access.

[Dee]

there is still the e-ink kindle as well, amazon has just expanded to the back-lit option as well.

for me, even with the price of books, the kindle saves me money - by the time I factor in that it wasn't until recently that I had a bookstore near me (after borders closed)...and I had to drive over an hour to get to one - so when I factored the gas in, plus the fact that the price of books in stores is still significantly more than I would pay for the same one on Amazon in print or ebook...

[Sandra]

Amy wrote: "I don't think libraries will ever completely die out because I don't think eBooks will 100% take over printed books. Especially children's books. It would require everyone to have a color eReader i..."

[Sandra]

Libraries are meeting places for all ages and printed books can be shared.

[Monica]

I don't think libraries will end where I live the old ones were torn down then rebuilt into better looking libraries. And I have a cousin who lives in his community library.

[Licha]

I've got an e-reader too, but I still prefer the feel of a real book and the experience of going to the library and browsing for books. I like to be able to flip through a book if I need to refer back, look at pictures, etc. I also like knowing how far into the book I am as I read and to be able to gage how much more in chapter I have if I have any time constraints. Having a physcial book too is a good conversation starter. I can recommend books and often times get good recommendations back, not to mention the discussions I end up having on whatever book I'm reading at that moment. There's no way to do that with an e-reader. And do you seriously need to have your thousand books available to you when all you're going to read is one at a time?

[Elisa Santos]

Here, the ereaders are still not largely spread, so, the Kindle/Nook craze is still to arrive here.We still have to aquire reading habits,which most people do not have.....

But you are right as to some authors do not bother to print books anymore: they just do the e-publishing which as you Stephanie so rightly said, can be just crappy writting downloading, just ofr the sake of writting.

[Deale]

As a former librarian...I can tell you that libraries are buying e readers of all sorts and electronic books. We are also continuing to buy paper books. Libraries are places for many things including research, meetings, and such. In the academic library I used to work in there were group study rooms, presentation areas, etc. and, thankfully a cafe. Public libraries seems to be doing quite well. With services such as inter-library loan you can get anything. LOVE the library

[Dan]

The printing press allowed books to be available to the masses. Certainly this was an improvement over hand writing books, as beautiful as they may have been. Now the computer is in the process of replacing the printing press. And yes, it will change libraries and publishing. I think new technology needs to be embraced. Some libraries are already offering ebooks. Publishers, libraries, and booksellers need to adapt to this new technology, or fail. And yes...anyone can now publish a book within minutes, so as readers we need to find new ways to find books we'll enjoy. What a great tools Goodreads.com is for this. We collectively get to decide what we read now, not just a tight knit group of publishing houses.

[Stephanie]

Deale wrote: "As a former librarian...I can tell you that libraries are buying e readers of all sorts and electronic books. We are also continuing to buy paper books. Libraries are places for many things inclu..."

I absolutely do love the library... with a passion!

[Estelle]

I own a kindle, but that didnt stop me from buying books. SOme books are worth keeping a physical copy, like mentioned above, reference books and non-fictions are best when reading on a physical book. I dont think library will be gone because of ebooks, I like to go to the library to browse books or just sit there for hours readng. I guess its the environment, that makes reading comfortable.

[Ajay]

I own a Nook. I read almost exclusively on the Nook. Of course, I still prefer comics in the paper book form. As technology evolves and becomes more accesible we will have more people adopting ebooks. I read on the Nook and on my mobile phone. I carry hundreds of books in these devices. I am happy. In short I have my own library. Of course, the community library will have to adapt. Here in Australia they are more like community centres. People come, meet and read(in whichever order). It is actually heartening to see teenagers actually hanging outside the library. I am sure some of them might just wander inside and discover the magic of reading. I have hope for the library. Though I have greater hopes for electronic books. It is just the question of access. I can read obscure and really old books of googlebooks or project gutenberg. Nothing can beat that.

[Elisa Santos]

Love libraries since a kid: the smell, the quiet, the browsing of books - love hanging in there for hours on end and my son follows my footsteps as he also loves to be in the library and play games and look through books.

[Stephanie]

Ajay wrote: "I own a Nook. I read almost exclusively on the Nook. Of course, I still prefer comics in the paper book form. As technology evolves and becomes more accesible we will have more people adopting eboo..."

I do enjoy Project Gutenberg. I read classics on that site when I'm without much to do at work. In the beginning, it was hard for me to concentrate onthe book on the computer screen, but I am adapting. I guess, like anything else, with the forward motion of the world, libraries will have to move forward as well...

[Stephanie]

Maria wrote: "Love libraries since a kid: the smell, the quiet, the browsing of books - love hanging in there for hours on end and my son follows my footsteps as he also loves to be in the library and play games..."

My children LOVE books. I have a 2 and a 4-year-old. They have a nice bookshelf right outside their room that is stocked, almost to the collapsing point, with their favorite picture books. I can't wait for the day when I can start reading them books without pictures and keep their attention! I want them to be able to enjoy the solitude and wonder of the library, like I do. Knowing that all of those books are right there and available to you and anyone else is a wonderful feeling. Books are very expensive and I think the library is the most fantastic idea ever conceived. God bless who ever came up with it!

[Stephanie]

Ajay wrote: "I own a Nook. I read almost exclusively on the Nook. Of course, I still prefer comics in the paper book form. As technology evolves and becomes more accesible we will have more people adopting eboo..."

Oh, and if you like comics a bit, have you ever tried The Dresden Files? Butcher is planning to turn the whole series into a set of graphic novels eventually. There is already one out called Welcome to the Jungle. I just finished it and thought it was pretty good, a bit predictable, but not terrible. I haven't ever read much in the graphic novel genre, so that was a little bit challenging for me... :)

[Elisa Santos]

Stephanie wrote: "Maria wrote: "Love libraries since a kid: the smell, the quiet, the browsing of books - love hanging in there for hours on end and my son follows my footsteps as he also loves to be in the library ..."

My son is 6 and he likes to hear me tell the stories and then pick up the same book and he "reads" to me.

[Ajay]

Stephanie wrote: "Ajay wrote: "I own a Nook. I read almost exclusively on the Nook. Of course, I still prefer comics in the paper book form. As technology evolves and becomes more accesible we will have more people ..."

Thanks for the recommendations. I will have to look up The Dresden files in the local library or bookshop I guess :-). I am actually more of a old school comic book fan. I am currently re reading Tintin which you Americans have been ignoring stubbornly in spite of Speilberg etc. Anyway, graphic novels can be a challenging genre. For me comics are an escape from reality. So I prefer comics to graphic novels which can be a tad disturbing at times.

[Deale]

I just found out about Tintin and am going to read some. I read and liked Sandman, Dark Knight and Watchmen. Like the escape from reality too, wish I could escape time constraints.
My new Nook is the Nook Color. I wonder how the graphic novel will work on it.

[Deale]

Hi Tirzah....Not off tangent at all. B&N used to be the bully on the block causing small bookstores to go out of business. Now, it is having problems. There is an article in the NYTimes Sunday a week or two ago about this. Article said that B&N is removing music sections just as you say. They are competing with Amazon, which is the difficulty. Also, I hear google and B&N, I think, are now getting into the textbook business. UGH

[Amy]

I think music is slightly different than books though. Think of how the music delivery (for lack of the right term) has changed over the years, effectively getting rid of the "old" version (records, LPs, 8 tracks, cassettes, and now CDs). Books have been books for centuries, and therefore I think they will be more resistent to change. Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part. I have a Nook, but I still read more "real" books than eBooks. As for schools, they will have a hard time affording to equip students with enough eReaders or laptops to eliminate all books. Also, think what will happen to the eyesight of our world if all we have to read on are computer screens?

[Dan]

Amy wrote: "I think music is slightly different than books though. Think of how the music delivery (for lack of the right term) has changed over the years, effectively getting rid of the "old" version (records..."
I don't know how schools can afford NOT to go to e-books. The price of school textbooks are astronomical (and I'm not sure why considering the buying power of our school system.) College textbook are often in excess of $100 a piece. Our knowledge base is also always changing, and books need to be updated. For public schools, we should have a national database where textbook can be dynamically created to match any curriculum. It could be constantly updated (ala wikipedia.) Ultimately, I think it would be significantly less expensive and more effective.

[Amy]

Dan wrote: "Amy wrote: "I think music is slightly different than books though. Think of how the music delivery (for lack of the right term) has changed over the years, effectively getting rid of the "old" vers..."

The main problem though is immediate available funding. Schools would have to an abundance in excess to purchase eReaders or laptops for every student and also buy the eBook rights to all the textbooks. They don't have that in surplus. They do have enough, however,to buy a set of textbooks for each content area in rotation. Also, school textbooks are much, much less than college textbooks - around $50-60. If a student damages or loses a textbook, the school is out $50-60 (some families cannot afford to replace) - a student damages or loses a laptop or eReader, the school is out a lot more $$. If companies such as Apple, who are offering a "school" iPod for $499 each even though it costs them around $20 to produce would actually sell their technology to schools at a reasonable rate, more schools probably would advance their technology. It would be a perfect world, though, to have the funding available to switch all schools to the e-textbooks that can be updated with the most current information; however, our country does not fund schools to support this.

[Dan]

Amy wrote: "Dan wrote: "Amy wrote: "I think music is slightly different than books though. Think of how the music delivery (for lack of the right term) has changed over the years, effectively getting rid of th..."

I think if you had an accountant get out his adding machine and crunch the numbers on this, the cost savings on this investment would be close to immediate, but what is more important is the improvement it could add to our education system. I think our kids deserve to get more out 12 years of education than a lifetime of back problems from lugging giant out-of-date textbooks around.

[Amy]

Dan wrote: "Amy wrote: "Dan wrote: "Amy wrote: "I think music is slightly different than books though. Think of how the music delivery (for lack of the right term) has changed over the years, effectively getti..."

I agree that the tools the technology can provide with e-texbooks are great, but as an educator, I know how the budget works. At least in my state, the funding comes in different accounts - general fund, capital outlay, trust funds, etc. The money in each of these accounts can only be used for certain things, which is unfair - why shouldn't a school be able to shift funds around for their needs. If the money is not available in the right account, it's not available, whether or not an accountant crunches numbers and sees the long-term financial gain. If there is not enough at the time in the capital outlay fund, the school is not going to be able to invest in the technology for e-textbooks. I could be wrong for other parts of the US, but in rural SD, this is the case.

[Melinda]

I just can't get into ebooks. I love the feel of the pages and paper. Old school all the way!

[Richard]

have had a kindle now for 4 months and love it. haven't read a single paper book since getting it and have actually read a great deal more than when i was reading paper books. recently a friend gave me a paperback to read and i found it uncomfortable to hold - amazing how quick my hands have forgotten the feel of a book. i'll have to percevere as me friend wrote the book they gave me but as far as i am concerned it is ebooks all the way

my one misgiving with ebooks is i can't lend them on to folk, they have to buy their own copies. so saying e books are so damn cheap that's not really a chore

as for libraries, they will always exist but i can see there being less of them. a large central library rather than smaller town and villiage libraries.

[Citra]

I would never read anymore if not because of ebooks. They're so portable and easy to access, so I will not give them up for anything. I am allergic to dust, so paper books may not be an option for me. They're also requires a lot of space to store.

[Deale]

I love ebooks and love the paper ones too. I alternate. Most libraries have ebooks you can download (for free) for a specific lending period. As a librarian, I know that libraries are often at the forefront of technology, not at the back end.

[Rachel]

Abolutely. Our library service in Cambridgeshire is offering e-book loans. Except for through Kindle as Amazon doesn't allow it (boo, hiss to Amazon!). Books will never completely die out as people love the physical thing of a book, plus you need to invest in a reader, normal computers are not a viable option however much iPad adverts try to tell you that they are. I have a Kindle which I use for holiday as it does save space, but most books I get from the Library and some I buy if I want to keep them.

[Amy]

Rachel wrote: "Abolutely. Our library service in Cambridgeshire is offering e-book loans. Except for through Kindle as Amazon doesn't allow it (boo, hiss to Amazon!). Books will never completely die out as peo..."

My library, which uses Overdrive as its lender, now accepts Kindle to download! It's a separate file (you have to choose if you want the regular Adobe epub file or the Kindle version). This change has only happened about six months ago, so maybe your library can now support a Kindle?

[Dee]

AFAIK, library loans outside the US haven't been negotiated yet - because of licensing and stuff - I think the biggest issue is that amazon library borrows run through their website, vice other downloads which are primarily through overdrive

[Linda]

Personally, I like going to the library. A library is a social hub, gets people out and about, it's community. And a book I may not like costs me nothing. I like holding a book in my hand, turning the pages, coming back to my bookmark to continue on.

I tried a Kindle, a Nook and could not take the radiation. So even though they are convenient and I like the idea of being able to enlarge the print to suit my needs, having it's own lighting is a great plus, I was unable to continue their use. The short time I did use e-readers, I liked them. For me, going out to the library is better.

[Steve]

I have no use for paper books or libraries but that's just me.

[Angela]

Being someone who is a Library Assistant, I do rather hope that people continue to visit their libraries - it's my job!

[K.B.]

Lorenzo wrote: "I think the dollar price of this emerging technology--e-readers, e-books--will in short order rein in its seeming relentless advance. Already we're seeing the prices for e-texts rise to nearly mat..."
I think the price increases for ebooks are outrageous! They don't have printing, transportation or storage costs and are just being greedy. Thankfully, there is a growing independent publishing industry out there with books the stuffy established houses daren't take a risk on, with fairer pricing. The problem is sorting the gems from the dross.

[K.B.]

Sandyboy wrote: "have had a kindle now for 4 months and love it. haven't read a single paper book since getting it and have actually read a great deal more than when i was reading paper books. recently a friend gav..."

I resisted getting an e-reader but, like you, I prefer it to paper now. Libraries will have to move with the times to stay alive. In some places you can borrow e-books from the library. Here in England they run events and support readers' & writers' groups, provide newspapers, computers & internet access, lend music and films.

[Amy]

Steve wrote: "I have no use for paper books or libraries but that's just me."

That's too bad! Even though I have a Nook, I end up reading more printed books anyway. If there's a book I want to read but the library does not have it as an eBook, I get it in the print format. I would be sad to lose our library - my daughters and I have a lot of fun getting books for them, going to library events, participating in the summer reading program for kids, etc.

[Cathy]

I resisted getting an ereader forever -- my father was a printer and my mother a librarian! And I fondly remember childhood summer visits to the public library, checking out a dozen books at a time.

But -- the important thing is content. I love the feel of a book with real paper in my hand -- and flipping back and forth through the pages as I desire. I also love listening to some books on audible -- Water for Elephants was fabulous this way. And now I love the convenience of an ereader -- checking out books from a library without using gasoline or time. But still enjoying the experience of library visits and bookstore visits.

There was a great NPR story about the Brooklyn (NYC) Public Library -- and how they are embracing ebooks as a way to continue to offer content to the public. They currently check out, and check in 70,000 books a day. The concept of physically doing this, and the cost of doing this, suggests that ebooks may be a great supplemental way for libraries to serve their mission and also be financially secure for the future.

[Steve]

I have had a Kindle Touch since November. I have read many books on it, and have about 50 to read right now. Have not paid for an ebook yet.

The Kindle Touch is primarily for during my lunch hour, appointments, and travel. This is because I can carry a lot of reading with me without having to worry about weight, or not having something to read when I finish one.

I still go to the library, and read the hard cover books. These are mostly the new releases of my favorite authors.

I think libraries are here to stay, at least I hope so.

[Licha]

I think the e-readers are excellent primarily for now having all the classic books on hand. It has certainly made me want to read more of them now than when I was in school and had to read them as assignments. I now read them because I want to. For this reason, I think e-readers are fantastic. As for libraries, I hope they are here to stay. I could not live without my library. I love walking through the aisles and just picking up a book that catches my fancy. I have found some real treasures this way.

[Carrie]

My library will not become obsolete! They loan e-books and e-audio books through Library2Go - which is a great thing for patrons (free) and for the library as patrons cannot damage or lose these items. My library also has fantastic programs for the whole community, free computer and WiFi usage and they loan DVD's for free.

[Sue]

This is an excellent debate and I've sat on both sides of this... I'm an IT junkie, I live and breath technology. So with that said I take 100% advantage of it (LOVE any backlit device).

First the practical side - Millions upon millions of books are available via the library system for free. So first the library will NEVER go away, but how we use it is definitely evolving. You check out books online, you can download them or download audio books. All with an electronic device. But right now the library system has a limited # of titles available via this method. Probably less than 1% of the covers they offer via paper. EVENTUALLY I do see paper disappearing and this is more of a "green" effect, paper usage harms the envirnment so I see this going away eventually. Even if the library itself is probably the best recycler developed in several centuries.

I still enjoy paper, but when I travel, have an appointment where I need to sit and wait. Having hundreds of books on my eReader makes the time fly with only .5 lbs of weight added to my purse.

BTW I use all book media available - Audio Book, eBooks and Paper (I VERY rarely buy books now after decades of purchasing). Because of the library's ability to act more like shopping on amazon, I browse, select and I don't pay shipping because I pick up ... lol.

[Carol]

I love having 40 books with me all the time. I love getting a new book in seconds. I love being able to carry many books on vacation. I enjoy reading and seeing what others highlighted. I like having notes and highlights that I can find again instead of flipping back through a book. I think this is really like a calcualtor to a computer. Or the old film cameras to a digital. I am also converting my CD library to IPod. I think this technology offers us some rich experiences. I want a back lit ereader so I don't bother my hubbie at night!

[Michielle]

I don't think libraries will go away because of ereaders. There is more of a danger regarding funding for the library system than technology. Many of the libraries I have been to also have the technology & licensing agreements to loan ebooks and some will loan you laptops and ereaders.