Will E-Books Transform the Way We Read?

(CBS)  No, it's not a rock concert or a food festival that is daring crowds to the National Mall. It's the printed page - which still has the power to enthrall.

Though at a bookmobile, there's not a printed page in sight, reports CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes.

"They can download digital media for free, and that's audio books, e-books, music and video," said Renee San Jose, a marketing and events coordinator with Overdrive.

It's not sponsored by some high-tech company, but your public library.

Surprised? Libraries are changing with the times, said Washington D.C.'s chief librarian.

"While we used to be the place that held the books we're now in some places the connection point," said Ginnie Cooper, the chief librarian of D.C. Public Libraries.

Many public libraries are making books available by way of their websites for free.

All you need is a device to download them and a library card. No returns and no late fees.

"The titles automatically expire at the end of each lending period," San Jose said. "So there is no worry for the expiration date or having to go back to the library to physically return the book."

Overdrive, the company that manages more than 9,000 library Web sites, estimates 30 million people have visited the Web site of their local library in 2008, a 63 percent increase over 2007.

"It's gotten more people reading one way or another. And I think the e-book format really appeals to a lot of folks," Cooper said. "I see them on Metro, on airplanes, I love it."

On some college campuses, e-books are replacing textbooks. This fall, six universities were selected to try the Kindle DX, Amazon's newest digital reader.

"I like to think what you hold in your hand tonight is the future," said a professor from Pace University.

And how does the future feel for students at New York's Pace University?

"I have friends that have come out of the bookstore paying $800 for a semester of books," said Nina Schoeler, a Pace student. "So the books being so cheap on the Kindle it's definitely well worth it."

But not everyone agrees.

"It's confusing to learn how to navigate," said Dan Santagata, another student. "I'd rather, much rather, open up a textbook and flip to the page."

And going digital can be costly. The newest Kindle DX sells for just under $500.

[kwnewton]

A Kindle 2 and a Kindle DX can both read the book aloud (albeit in a rather robotic voice) so long as the publisher has not opted to turn off the text to speech feature for their books. Pretty much all eReaders offer some variation in font size so that you can make the text bigger. The average age of a Kindle owner is 50+ years.

The new iRex eReader will go on sale in selected Best Buy stores in a month or so. It's about $400 and has a larger screen than Kindle 2, which is down to $299. Sony sells a variety of Readers, and some are sold in bookstores. Amazon doesn't sell Kindle anywhere but online, but you do have 30 days to send it back if you don't like it. Right now Kindle is one eReader that has no way to use borrowed library ebooks. It does have wireless convenience, which not all eReaders offer.

eReaders and ebooks are a growing market because they offer advantages in terms of convenience and ebook cost. I think you'll see more and more eReaders out there as the price comes down. But really, it's just another way to read books.

[billingsjt]

I love my Kindle2!

[rf35]

The thing I like about the Kindle (I don't know if other e-readers are the same) is the screen. It's not a glowing computer screen. That makes it easier on the eyes than a notebook or other computer screen. Since I had eye surgery a few years ago, I've been more sensitive to light than normal...the Kindle doesn't bother my and I can now read using natural sunlight again because the "pages" are not glaring white. I haven't bought one yet, but I have tried it and like it. It is more portable and lets me carry many books with me while I'm deployed. I will probably buy a Kindle when I get back from this tour.

[sjc_1]

A good reader should be able to do most everything a laptop or netbook can do, be lighter, cheaper and last longer between charges. They will eventually be THE portable computing device in wide spread use in just a few years.

[j40405]

They are not for me. E-books just mean one more battery to charge, one more item that can't be dropped, get wet, scratched, smashed, and one more electronic device that will lose its mind sooner or later. etc. I would much rather have a standard text book to read and a paper back to carry in my lunch box. Simple is just better.

[bronwynpn]

There are some excellent reasons for digitization. The most important one is to save precious printed world treasures, like the illuminated manuscripts produced prior to the invention of the printing press.

The importance of this was made clear after the flood that nearly destroyed the Uffizi Museum in Florence back in the 1960's, destroying thousands of precious books. Recently, the British Library as well as a large number of other libraries around the world has been working to make sure that, even if the originals are somehow destroyed (e.g., a flood in London. Antwerp, or even New York City because of global warming). I have personally benefited from these projects -- I now have copies of the entire Gutenberg Bible (plus its supporting documents), a medieval prayer books, and the Book of Kells, the famous book written and decorated in 7th century Ireland, things that I can pass down.

But ... books? It's true that they can be ephemeral -- and online services like Google now contain hundreds of digital images of public domain books.

I _might_ buy an e-book reader after the prices come down more, but I will always treasure holding a book in my hands, touching and turning pages made and printed by people, not by electrons glowing on a screen.

[barbaram99]

It is ye that took PE out the schools and now ye ***** cos yer children are fat for lack of extersize. It is ye that is pushing for this yet MS changess OS there 3 to 5 y3aers. Forgot Apple and yep I have used a friend's before he dumped it. I have not seen a class room since 74. I am sure I be appalled how the money I am forced to pay thru rent is spent on teaching our boys and girls. I am childless.
They can use a computer better than I. Yet they laughted in my face when I brought the idea of no needle record qith everything on one side years ago. Cos I am blind and they thought it was crazy..We use them today CDx
Now they push a reader that benefits the abled bodied. Can it read to us blind. Is this really saving the planet. Computers are nice as we can do on them. I have to use Word to write when writing by hand is hard to do. My old notebook is 6 pounds. It don't go with me much. I still have to use a 4 power glass to read. When ye ***** yer children need recess, the things ye member in school it is ye to blame. Yer the ones that changed the schools. When ***** they are not being tadght properly ye are the blame. Do ye care or is it the money save by dropping this/that. The poor can't afford to buy this..Ye may save paper and what not. It takes power to run the computer etc. Is that helpping the plant.

[Hosheen]

If you had a Mac, it would read to you in a choice of different voices. (I like Alex very well) Not only that, but it also has voice recognition so you can give it voice commands. Enlarging the words on the screen is also very easy if you can read that way, too.

Don't worry, Windows will catch up in another 3 to 5 years.

[Hosheen]

Digital books have already transformed the way I read and I have always read more than most people even think about.

I have over 700 books, articles, and magazines stored electronically. I paid nothing for any of them. They are all freely available on the internet. I can read these on my computer and almost any of the ebook readers. The best solution, and cheaper than the Kindle or most ebook readers is a tablet PC or a laptop. Those will allow you to have color and even to view movies or videos as well as making your own content, checking your email, and do it better and for less.

I wonder how much paper I have saved and reduced my damage to the environment, too? Also, I can "loan" a book to a friend and not worry about will I get it back or will it be damaged.

[Wolf1944]

But how do you underline things and make notes in the margins and endpapers?

[Hosheen]

If you follow my suggestion about using a laptop or tablet PC. This wouldn't even be a question. Also, some ebook readers with touch screens give you this capability although not with the ease and elegance of a tablet PC or laptop. Mini-laptops and the soon-to-be-announced Apple iTablet will be even better.

[barbaram99]

I am 55 and yep don't have one of e readers. It would have to read the book to me. What's the point. I guess the seeing want to have some new reader when in my day we read books. It looks like anthind out of sci fi.