Will E-Books Transform the Way We Read?

From Libraries to College Campuses, Real Books are Being Replaced with Electronic Versions

(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 bytch 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 bytch yer children need recess, the things ye member in school it is ye to blame. Yer the ones that changed the schools. When bytch 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.

[skeezix06]

I'm not saying they're right. I think they were as wrong as wrong can be. What I am saying that when you have NCLB without any distinction being given for the difference between able and disabled children and pressure on schools to cut the costs or privatize, the people pushing all this junk isn't about to let anything as forward thinking as P.E. and the arts return to the classrooms.

[skeezix06]

When I'm reading I like the feel of a book in my hands and the ability to physically turn a page. The only way you can do that with an e-book is if you print off the durn thing which sort of negates the whole concept of e-books.

[Hosheen]

Well, you Luddites probably objected when printed books were available that they didn't have the feel and elegant appearance of scrolls.

Yes, it is ignorant fools that would print the ebook. That can't be helped. Stupidity is almost as common as hydrogen.

[maistir]

Many will purchase what they neither need nor want and enrich the sellers of plastic junk and batteries that already choke our landfills.
There truly is a techno-sucker born every minute.

[Henri_Rochard]

Hey, Hosheen, byte me.

I have a computer job and interface with any number of midrange and mainframe servers during the day via my PC.

If I want to curl up in a comfy chair with a printed book at the end of the day, that's my business. If you want to use a Kindle, then go for it.

There are still music fans out there who buy LPs. That's their business.

Hosheen, who appointed you lord god of the universe?

[davidbthelen]

Perhaps when all books are digitized onto the computer, books in school libraries could then be donated. The books could be donated to places were laptops are not available, such as international locations, or homeless shelters. This will leave room in the libraries for exercise equipment.
Many students are over weight. Studies have shown students do better on tests and have lower discipline problems at schools with exercise. Having better behaving students, I am sure, any teacher would love to have in their classrooms. There are stationary bikes and walking treadmills for as little as $100-300. Local health or other major foundation could donate the money to buy this exercise equipment.
In Japan, students begin each day with exercise first thing in the morning. Music is played during students exercising. Many students are more artistic. Perhaps they could learn the arts and music. They could start new bands. These bands could donate DVDs of their band?s creation to be viewed by students while they are exercising. This could be where students could purchase these DVDs to be viewed at home.
Studies have shown the brain takes 3 hours to ?wake up.? With exercise, it is fully functional right after exercise.
Let us donate books to worthwhile organizations and at the same time free up space at the school libraries. This space can then be used for students to exercise. Then we may create healthier more productive students at the same time.

[skeezix06]

It'll never happen. They got rid of P.E. and the arts because the people in power decided that was distracting kids from learning.

[tmittelstaed]

There's nothing wrong with moving to e-books but these book readers are a joke and will never fly.

I'm typing this on a 5 year old used laptop that I bought for less than the cheapest cost of one of those silly book reader things. It has a better screen resolution than a book reader, it can display any text that would display on a book reader, and when I'm done reading books I can play games or surf the web.

[thomderr1]

How right you are!

Too much 'portability' will cause more restrictions on driving, and the like. But nothing can match the feel of a good book. Or, a great old book.

[sjc_1]

I had the idea of a book reader for college students years ago. Some texts were available in electronic form, but there were no low cost readers available. It would be much easier to carry a small reader rather than a backpack filled with a half dozen large books. The price of electronic books should be half the text price. Save trees, save backs and save the student some money.

[zazzj]

When my husband took college courses with digital texts, he paid pretty close to the regular price for texts, but couldn't sell them back at the end of the class. In addition, when his computer crashed, he lost his entire library, and had no right to reload the texts, so he didn't even get to 'keep' the books.

[zazzj]

When my husband took college courses with digital texts, he paid pretty close to the regular price for texts, but couldn't sell them back at the end of the class. In addition, when his computer crashed, he lost his entire library, and had no right to reload the texts, so he didn't even get to 'keep' the books.

[tmittelstaed]

Why didn't he parter with another student to share the cost and then make a duplicate for the other student? Why didn't he make backup copies/

[zazzj]

the reason no backup copies were made = "digital rights management" software.

the point I would make is, do not assume that buying a digital book equals ownership. It's more like a rental. You can't loan it to a friend, or sell it when you're through with it, or even keep it forever if they decide to change your rights after the fact (or to "upgrade" formats).

[Hosheen]

You make a good point. The prices some places (like Amazon) charge for ebooks is criminal. But DRM or not, there are ways to make back-up copies and those CAN be resold to recover part of your costs.

Yes, having a digital book does equal ownership unless you don't make the effort to ensure that you can do as you please with it. There are lots of ways to do this and not trying is just asking to be worked over by places like Amazon and Barnes and Nobel.