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Wednesday, June 30, 2010

The Great Wednesday Compare #6- Paperbacks VERSUS Libraries


The winner of last week's Great Wednesday Compare (Paperbacks VERSUS Hardcovers), with a final score of 13-4 is paperbacks.

While lots of people last week agreed that the aesthetics of a hardcover are better and that hardcovers last longer, it wasn't enough to convince readers to give up on the paperback. Perhaps if the other reasons to choose a hardcover were highlighted, the voting would have gone differently:

1. Hardcovers make better jewelry boxes or hiding places for flasks when you hollow out the middle

2. Hardcovers make better weapons

3. Hardcovers make better supports for those table legs that are just too short

4. Hardcovers make better art
5. Hardcovers= weightlifting (remember: always lift with your back)

6. Ladies' Balance and Posture Exercises

7. Hardcovers are better for pressing leaves, flowers, and fairies

8. Hardcovers keep podiatrists in business

But alas, despite their many practical purposes, people still prefer paperbacks.

Which brings us to this week. The Harper government has declared that paperbacks wear out too quickly and libraries have been mandated to carry only hardcovers as a cost efficiency measure. However, low consumer demand and high production costs have not shown a great return for publishers. Random House and Harper Collins, Canada's two biggest publishers, have decided to only produce one or the other: paperbacks (which would mean the end of libraries), or hardcovers (which would mean the end of paperbacks, but libraries continue to exist). It sounds like a referendum is in order. This goes beyond paperbacks versus hardcovers. This is paperbacks VERSUS libraries...

Vote in the comment section below before July 6th.



12 comments:

Becky said...

libraries

Kate said...

How to choose? How to choose?

If I choose libraries, I will lose out on paperbacks, and the smell and feel of new books, and bookstores.

If i choose paperbacks, I will lose my source of free books, and my librarian friend will be out of a job.

Sounds like a lose-lose situation.

I know! I choose a new government!

Sam said...

Libraries...paperbacks have no staying power or eye appeal because they often turn into trash after one reading. I'm reading a paperback copy of "Home, Away" right now, for instance - brand new copy - and both the front and back covers refuse to stay flat...looks awful even though I'm always careful with the books I read. Why can't publishers put decent paperbacks together?

Chrisbookarama said...

Oh the horror! It's worse than a Zombie Apocalypse!

Save the libraries!

raidergirl3 said...

libraries all the way!

This roller coaster ride of decisions is exhilerating!

Nikki Neurotic said...

Libraries. I would never be able to afford to buy all the books I want to read. Even paperbacks are pricey nowadays.

Heather said...

Kate took my answer! heheheh

Wanda said...

I'd be lost without my library!

Nikki in Niagara said...

This scenario is too unrealistic for me too imagine!!

If I choose libraries that means that consumers will hardly ever buy books anymore as they will be too expensive. I have to go against the majority no matter how much I love the library I still want to be able to afford to buy a book whenever I want to.

So I'm going with paperbacks and we can have weekend neighbourhood paperback swaps!

Loni said...

There's something timeless about libraries, about the collection of knowledge. Even though paperbacks are great, I think future generations would appreciate a good library. So, libraries for me!

Allison said...

This was a really tough one. I had to mull it over for a few days. Ultimately, libraries win my vote.

Teddy Rose said...

I'd like to tell you what I think of Harper's mandate and what he can do with it but I am way too polite for that. Just use your imagination.

That said, I can't loose my library. I think that would be the end of me!
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