Awesome: Checking Out E-Books From the Library While Sitting on the Couch at Home
Me after discovering the LA public library's collection of ebooks.
via Libraries An Overlooked Source When it Comes to E-Books [Study] today at Mashable:
As reading habits shift from printed to digital ink, public libraries are struggling to raise awareness of their digital offerings.
The introduction of tablets and dedicated e-book readers has changed the way we read. Now, you’re just as likely to find fellow commuters or waiting-room dwellers reading an e-book as a physical one.
While our libraries are busy trying to keep up with the rise of e-books, it turns out their patrons don’t know there are e-books available for lending.
Some 62% of respondents to the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project’s latest library survey said they didn’t know if their library offered e-book lending.
In reality, three-quarters of public libraries in the U.S. offer this service. The problem is, not enough people are taking advantage of it, or even know about it.
The ebook that I’m reading now from the library:
I know about it and use it to some extent. But there is just something about being able to pick up a book and reading til you need to put it down, mark your page and pick up right where you left off. Seeing the cover art, the blurbs, and browsing through a few pages to see if I’m interested, all helps me pick a new author to read. Can’t really do that in an e-book.
Then again, I absolutely hate reading for pleasure and having to scroll, slide or tap. The visual aspects of e-reading just don’t appeal to me, besides bothering my eyes. I get a headache if I’m skimming through and have to scroll quickly.
One thing you can do with an ebook you borrow from the library: make notes and highlights in it then if you decide to buy the book you’ll still have your notes in it.
I love my e-books. I’ve never been one to crease, mark and make notes in a book, so most of my paper books are still in pristine shape. I love the portability of my kindle and am never without it.
After reading all the articles about how the gov’t shouldn’t control the internet and people swiping stuff I realized that in fact the internet is a library. Thanks internet rebels.