“I take mine to bed with me every night.”
“I never leave home without it.”
“I can customize it just the way I want it.”
These are some comments one often hears from readers of e-books. Many reluctant converts have become very enthusiastic users of e-readers such as Nooks and Kindles. But you can also encounter just as many purists -diehards who cannot imagine reading anything other than a “real” book, because the reading experience has come to mean much more than just the act of reading itself. So we’re going to talk about e-books as opposed to “real” books. And – because you can’t see me making air-quote marks each time I say “real” -lets just call these physical books.
A few years ago when e-readers first came into being, they were naturally adopted by younger people who grew up in the digital age. For them it became a convenient no-brainer. E-readers took longer to catch on among older adults, i.e., those of us who still remember music on cassette, typewriters, and rotary phones. But now you see lots of older people using them, because they’ve caught on to some advantages.
The most obvious advantage is the e-reader’s portability. Think about it; you can slip one into a tote bag or large purse and have a huge number of books at your fingertips. If you’re stuck in the doctor’s waiting-room-from-hell you’ve got entertainment. If you’re on a trip it can go into your carry-on without extra bulk and weight. If you’re visiting a friend you can show him or her everything you’re reading and make some recommendations. If you like to read in bed you don’t have to balance a heavy physical book.
Another strong selling point is the size of the print. You can make the print as large as you like, a real plus for those who have trouble with conventional print. There is also a way to adjust the amount of light showing behind the print. No more magnifiers needed and no more glare.
Physical books can pile up in a hurry. They’re stacked on the nightstand; they’re collecting dust in the den. And what do you do with them after you finish? If they come from the library, of course, you just take them back. But if you’ve purchased them it can be an ever-growing problem.
So think about these points and decide whether e-books can replace or supplement physical books for you. Talk to friends who use e-readers and have them show you what they can do.
A little aside here for those who may be thinking about buying an e-reader for a parent or grandparent: When I was at the library, every January we’d see an influx of older patrons with e-readers. They’d say “My son gave me this for Christmas but I don’t know how to make it work.” Remember that people over a certain age were not born with a mouse in their hand. They were likely easing into retirement when computers entered the workplace. Sit down with your older relative and show them how to download books. And don’t stop there. Walk them through doing it several times and show them how to adjust settings and the other bells and whistles that are involved. Check back with them periodically to make sure it’s all going smoothly, or if they need a refresher course.
It would be remiss of me not to also mention that a library card and password is all that a new e-reader user needs to access FREE books from a couple of databases that your library subscribes to. Staff there will be happy to demonstrate how to do this. Now, if you’re a purist (and I must admit I’m one of those), the physical book is part of the whole experience – holding it, turning the pages, curling up in the recliner with it. The experience is as much tactile as mental. You might even try the e-reader for a time and realize that it’s not for you. That’s okay too! And that’s the answer to our original question, “e-books or physical books?” There’s absolutely no right or wrong way to read. It all depends on the individual’s needs and preferences. Happy reading!
