Books are Still the Preferred Choice
By Pat Rutkowski | New Britain Public Library Director at January 26, 2024 | 5:30 pm | Print
Just announced this weekend is the news of the demise of the Ringling Brothers Circus. This organization dates back to 1884. Think about that – it predates the Civil War. When I heard the story, it made think and admire the resilience of libraries and books and their continued success. It also reminded me of the many times I have heard people remark about the demise of the book but yet here we are.
This past September, the Pew Research Center released a report, Book Reading 2016, which might hold a few surprises for some. People are reading. The number of people who are reading hasn’t changed much since 2012. And perhaps a second bigger surprise, when they reached for a book they choose a traditional print book over a digital book. The sale of e-books declined for the first time in 2015 while print sales remained relatively steady.
But I knew that. This is a conversation that happens often at the library as readers profusely share their love of the printed book and the feel in their hands. In fact, there have been a wide variety of studies which have shown why readers prefer the printed paper copy and the many benefits. Holding a book is a physically, pleasant experience. People prefer contact with textured warm materials, not cold hard plastic and glass. Reading comprehension and retention are better with printed books. There are fewer distractions than with an electronic device. The screens may actually drain our mental resources while we are reading and affect our retention of what we read. Comprehension is greater with printed material than with reading on a device. A study showed that students often skipped over text and missed important details or information. And then there is the emotional connection with a book – some hold pleasant memories. Ah, one just popped into my head – many nights of bedtime reading of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with my kids. Impossible to convey the wonderful memories it brings but I can surely still feel them. Can’t say that I recall such memories connected with any of the e-books that I have read. And of course if I haven’t won you over yet – print books are better for your health for reading at night. The light that e-readers emit interferes with your sleep, keeps you up longer, suppresses sleep-promoting hormone melatonin, and can affect your morning alertness. Further down the line, lack of sleep contributes to health issues.
So what will the future bring? We will have to wait and see but perhaps Amazon’s newest venture is a message. This past November, Amazon opened its first physical bookstore in Seattle. Although it will be selling devices as well, such as the Kindle, Fire TV, Echo, Fire tablets, primarily it is a book store. Ironic isn’t it, as Amazon contributed to the demise of physical bookstores and has now opened its own.
But however you prefer your reading material: printed, e-book, or audio book, we cater to all tastes at the library. The best part, you can get it for free at the library.
