In an era where people are carrying entire libraries in their pockets, it would not be surprising to think that fewer people are reading print books. From eBooks to audiobooks, there are new ways to consume the media. However, despite the rising number and availability of digital books, print is still the preferred form of reading.
According to a 2018 study by the Pew Research Center, 39 percent of U.S. adults only read print books while just 7 percent read exclusively digital books. This contradicts the idea that print media, such as newspapers, are dying. Unlike print newspapers, which just two in 10 U.S. adults consistently read, print books offer readers a unique experience that digital formats cannot provide.
Elizabeth Nicholson, an instructional services librarian at Oesterle Library at North Central College, doubts that print books will ever face the same ‘death’ that so many believe print newspapers are facing. “We’re all kind of operating under the assumption that since most people are on their computers or on their phones or on some sort of tablet or whatever, it feels like we would be reading books in that way,” she said.
Despite the seemingly natural extension, however, she said, “people tend to think we are moving in that direction but in practice, they’re not.”
It is the tactile nature of print books that set them apart from their digital counterparts.
For Allie Cardot, ’18, reading from a screen makes the experience less personal. “I enjoy picking up a book and flipping the pages. I enjoy book covers and being able to write down where I bought the book and when on the title page,” she said.
The physicality of reading also appeals to Arika Falk, ’19. As the president of North Central’s book club, There’s Something About Books, Falk finds herself trying out new reading formats but always going back to print.
“There’s something about the feel. I like seeing how many pages I have left, I like holding the book,” Falk said.
The ability to manipulate physical books in matters as simple as turning the pages or commemorating a date is a draw, but this is ability is especially important for college students when it comes to their textbooks. According to a study from Business Insider, students tend to learn better when using physical textbooks versus online textbooks.
“I used to purchase digital versions of textbooks because they are usually cheaper, however, I am not able to read off of my computer,” Cardot said. “Textbooks are just so dense that sometimes I just really need to be able to stick Post-it Notes in them or highlight things to help me understand what I am reading.”
Falk agreed, saying: “Sometimes it’s just easier to have the physical copy in front of me in class just because I’m taking notes or I need to pull something up very quickly and I don’t have time to pull open my laptop, load up the book and go searching.”
While many school libraries are adapting to include more eBooks, librarians like Nicholson know that many students prefer physical textbooks, even if it means they are paying a significant amount more for them.
Oesterle Library is one of many that have added newer formats to their collection, with 138,033 eBooks in comparison to the 128,048 print books in their collection. Though the rise of digital books is slow and likely to not cause any major damage, libraries must acknowledge that there are readers who do want to see more eBooks and audiobooks.
Organizations like There’s Something About Books are also talking about the potential shift. Falk has discussed the possibility of introducing non-physical books to the club, but the members’ preference for physical books as well as their limited funding do not implicate any need for change. This goes to show that even though it’s convenient, technology is not always what people want.
Though all three self-described book aficionados were firm in their belief that print books are better, they all agree that there is a space for eBooks and audiobooks in today’s world. Digital books can be stored neatly on a single device, which is beneficial for many.
“My mom has a lot of digital books,” Falk said. “We live in an apartment (and) she used to have a lot of books, but now there’s just not a lot of space. The bookshelf is full, we can’t just keep piling up books.”
Whether it be for living spaces, travel or comfort, digital books offer an easier approach to reading, even if most readers still gravitate toward print books. Cardot, who doubts she will ever switch over to just digital books, summed this up by saying, “I think sometimes the right book is digital and sometimes the right book is a physical copy.”
