Although Amazon doesn't release specific sales numbers, the company reported last week that it had sold more than a million Kindles a week in December, according to the Huffington Post.
Barnes and Noble's Nook and Apple's iPad have also had banner years for sales as more and more people switch over to e-readers to consume books.
But not everyone is enamored of holding (and charging) an electronic device to read the latest mystery or magazine. Some people complain about the background lighting and formatting, while others just can't give up the feel, weight, even the smell of paper.
So where do you fall? Are you addicted to your e-reader? Do you buy more books than ever because of the ease of purchase? Or do you swear you'll never own one because you're worried that print books will go the way of the cassette tape?
Now it goes with me everywhere. I am especially happy to download library books on it, at no cost.
Clearly e-readers are particularly wonderful for reading on the run, on vacation, and more cheaply (once you buy the device). I agree that they will encourage more reading rather than less. They also save trees, because so many print books are produced, returned to the publishers, and "pulped," or destroyed, so that they won't be sold at a lower price. Sadly for those in the traditional publishing industry, the world is changing rapidly, and some will need to look for other ways to continue to earn money on books. Eventually, electronic books and readers will spread throughout the world and permit more and more individuals to read economically.
If you do not know about using e-materials at the library come to a Techno Topics program on February 13th, 7 PM at the Enfield Public Library. The whole program is on using your devices to borrow from the library’s collection.