Is the print book coming to an end? From http://www.thebookseller.com/news/print-book-sales-continue-fall.html:
"Book sales slipped for the fourth week in a row last week, and were down more than £3.3m on last year, according to Nielsen BookScan data.
A total of £24.2m was spent on printed books at UK retail outlets in the seven days to 26th March, down 2.9% (£735,000) on the previous week, and down 12% on the same week last year.
It is the 10th week of 12 in 2011 thus far that BookScan has reported a drop in year-on-year book sales, as the trade struggles to match a particularly poor start to 2010 when inclement weather resulted in sales falling 6% (£23m) in the first three months of the year on 2009."
I had blogged earlier about wondering whether to get a Kindle or Amazon or the like. I still haven't gotten one, as I don't really have a need for it. I don't travel enough for it to make a whole lot of sense for me. I would never, ever read an ebook at home. I prefer actual hard copy books. But will there come a point when I will have no choice?
I have a hard time seeing a time when hard copy books will become obsolete; but I think things will change. You used to see music stores in every mall. Not anymore. It's much easier and often cheaper to buy music online. But you can still go to Target and buy a CD if you want one. In that same vein, I am sure those who want actual books will still be able to get them. But I also predict that the trend discussed in the above-mentioned article will continue. However, it does make me a little bit sad.
I think we'll see the medium change dramatically but people still make/buy vinyl records... my guess is the "industry" will become more of a cottage industry... small press runs for book aficionados. No doubt the prices of real books will really go up. You're sitting on a fortune, Anne!
ReplyDeleteI am very attached to the tangible book. I like turning the pages and the weight of it in my hand. I enjoy the process of making my way through a large book and being able to see the progression as there are less and less pages to read. However, I recently purchased a Kindle and I love it! I miss the tangibility of an actual book, but reading an ebook is much easier on my vision and it is very portable. I don't lose my page when the kids jump up and knock a book out of my hand. I don't think I will ever give up on actual books, but there are some benefits to an ereader.
ReplyDeleteDamien, I would like to think my collection is worth something, but I fear it's value is to me alone! Unlike Thomas Jefferson, I don't think my collection will end up at the Library of Congress some day.
ReplyDeletecspottrun2020, I agree completely with your comments regarding the feel of the book. It's a very visceral thing. I do think I'd like an ereader for things other than books, like newspapers and magazines. So maybe I should give it more consideration.