E-readers

By Rebecca Katz

Can you envision a book that has pages that turn with the touch of a finger? Well, no imagination necessary, as this "virtual" concept is a reality.

From the Barnes and Noble Nook to the Amazon Kindle to the Sony Reader, book lovers have a variety of electronic readers to choose from.

Maureen St. George, 22, of Millville, owns a Nook and extols its benefits.

"I read a lot. If I’m at the end of one book and I know I’m going to start another soon, it’s a pain to carry around two books. With my Nook, it’s convenient, light, small, and has so many of my books on it already," she said.

Though St. George appreciates how the Nook condenses her collection of books, she said that she still reads traditional paper books from time to time.

"It’s not that I prefer the Nook to regular books, it’s just easier to have a Nook than a bunch of books. I have regular books still. If I want to read one of those books, I read that book. I’m not going to buy a book on the Nook that I already have in paper form," St. George said.

The one downfall of the Nook:

"If the battery is dead, I can’t read," she said.

A Harris Interactive poll found that just 8 percent of Americans currently use an electronic reading device. With prices being lowered and other tactics aimed at attracting consumers, that number continues to grow steadily.

Skidmore College sophomore Kaitlin Garofano, 20, of Hopedale, does not own an electronic reading device, but said that she plans to put the Nook on her Christmas list.

"It is so much easier to travel with than actual books, and you can get some books for cheaper than in the stores, or even for free," she said.

Not all students show such enthusiasm for e-readers, though.

Julie Tarella, 19, of Hopedale, a sophomore at Stonehill College said that she does not own an e-reader and does not plan to buy one.

"For me personally, I would much rather have an actual book in my hands. I figure I stare at a computer screen long enough, why stare at another just to read a book? I much prefer paperbacks and textbooks," she said.

A Forrester Research article entitled "How eReaders Will Fare in a Tablet PC World," estimates that by 2015, 29.4 million U.S. consumers will own e-readers.

With a number this large, will libraries be able to compete with electronic reading?

Stonehill College’s Interlibrary Loan/Reference Librarian Heather Perry does not believe libraries are in jeopardy.

"I think e-readers will have their place in the library just like computers and databases. Technology has done more to increase the relevance of libraries, than to jeopardize them. Libraries have to constantly shape themselves in the ways that best meet the needs of their patrons. If they are able to do this, then their existence will never be in jeopardy," she said.

"The library will continue to have a role even if more ‘books’ are available online. There are simply too many books to read to buy them all, so the idea of borrowing books will continue to be important, even if that borrowing is done via e-reader," Perry said.

While students can check out electronic books for reading on the computer, versions have not yet been created for e-reader platforms.

"Right now it is a technology-copyright issue," Perry said. "Publishers and creators of e-readers have not come up with an easy way to check out electronic titles, but there are ways in the works, and once it becomes easier, this will become more popular."