The survey was advertised on several listserves, the LRS website and blog, and in ALA’s weekly e-newsletter. More than 1,300 people participated, with 71% commenting on the blog.
Today, a summary of answers to part 2 of the survey, Beyond the Bathtub: Personal Preferences Among Many Factors Influencing Format Choice.
- When asked about their prediction for the future of the paper book, 63% believed that books would never disappear, while 11% thought there would no longer be paper books 100 years from now.
- 46% of respondents felt that multiple formats would continue to coexist successfully in libraries and in the retail world, seeing eBooks as a techie reading alternative—but not a replacement—of paper books
- 1-out-of-4 people commented on the unique emotional and aesthetic appeal of paper books, comments that revealed heartfelt, personal attachment to paper books. People noted the experience of reading also involves touching, holding, smelling, being moved by illustrations; there were common references to “curling up with a good book…”
And these quotes on both sides of the paper VS eBook issue: “...who wants to read their kid a bedtime story using a Kindle? And what e-reader can simulate the experience of looking at a coffee table art book with high-quality reproductions? I just don’t see how e-readers supplant the paper book in these areas…”
And…
“...electronic materials will continue to rise in popularity and will eventually take on some format we can’t even imagine now. Regarding a timeframe, it won’t happen overnight. We’ll have time to prepare and adapt, so relax…”
Wouldn’t all this make an interesting adult discussion program? You can read this LRS study, The Future of the Book Part1-Part2 on the LRS website http://www.lrs.or/g In the right-hand navigation box, click on Fast Facts...
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