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Print, e-books vie for readers

Digital format's popularity rises, survey shows

Posted: January 4, 2013 - 11:59pm
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David Tatum shops for comic books at Big Apple Comics &amp; Collectibles. Local book stores are coping with a changing literary landscape as more readers adopt digital formats such as e-books.  Jeff Heimsath / Amarillo Globe-News
Jeff Heimsath / Amarillo Globe-News
David Tatum shops for comic books at Big Apple Comics & Collectibles. Local book stores are coping with a changing literary landscape as more readers adopt digital formats such as e-books.

The popularity of reading on digital platforms gained steam last year, according to a survey from the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project showing people who read e-books increased from 16 to 23 percent during 2012. Meanwhile, readers sticking to print decreased from 72 to 67 percent.

In the past year, 75 percent of Americans read a book in any platform, reading an average of six books a year, according to the survey.

Local book stores are coping with a changing literary landscape, but Amarillo’s Big Apple Comics has not seen a noticeable hit to its sales yet. Owner Edd McCommon said although some comics are available as e-books, his customers prefer the print versions, which are collectable and more visually appealing.

“I think people will fight it a long time before (e-books) take,” he said.

According to the Pew survey, a third of Americans now own a tablet or e-reader — such as a Kindle or Nook — and interest in e-books is gaining momentum.

Amarillo’s library system is allocating more resources toward digital platforms, and plans to spend $30,000 on e-titles during the current budget year, which is almost double what was allocated for e-books on the previous budget, according to Donna Littlejohn, Director of Library Services.

Littlejohn said readers still prefer some titles in print, such as children’s literature and local history books that aren’t available in an electronic format.

“It depends on the reading experience that a person wants,” she said. “If they want quick information, they’ll choose electric formats, but if they want to sit and engross themselves in a story, they’ll choose print.

“Most people still prefer the print version. Parents reading to their children prefer sitting down with the print copy. There’s no substitute for that kind of experience.”

However, digital sales have been growing for companies such as Barnes & Noble, which attributed revenue of $160 million during its second quarter to e-readers, digital content and accessories — an increase of 6 percent from the previous year. The company said its digital content sales alone increased by 38 percent during the second quarter.

Hastings, in its second year of offering e-readers and e-books, has been focusing on expanding its digital selections while continuing to nurture its print base.

“It’s an accessory piece that allows people to find what they’re looking for that might not be in stores,” said Ryan Stewart, director of books at Hastings. “It’s about discovering entertainment, whether in digital or print format.”

For Amarillo writer Ruby Depuy, who opted to self-publish her first novel, “Thunderbird,” via Christian publisher Cross Books, e-books offer another method to promote her work, along with her website and blog.

However, she said print sales have been more consistent than digital.

“Part of it is because I’m older and my readership is older,” Depuy said. “We tend to want a book we can hold in our hands, so we can go back and easily read a passage.”

While e-books may not have across-the-board appeal yet, their adjustable print size offers a significant advantage to people with vision problems.

“I have a very dear friend whose son is legally blind and wanted to read my book and couldn’t because of the print,” Depuy said. “They downloaded the book and enhanced the font size so he could read it.”

Littlejohn has been surprised at the steady growth of e-books, and even owns both a tablet and e-reader herself.

“I initially felt a little disloyal, but as time has gone on, I have seen people who had quit using the library because of vision problems, and e-readers have made all the difference for those readers, because they can adjust the font size,” she said.

“It depends on individual choice for people what format works best for them.”

Despite the growing popularity of tablets and e-readers, Littlejohn expects the library to remain relevant well into the future.

“We continue to add program offerings, and people still want a community resource and place to gather to seek information,” she said. “The library is no longer a place where we warehouse books, but a place people come for information, no matter the format.”

At Big Apple Comics, McCommon is more focused on setting up an in-store LAN system than worrying about how e-readers may be affecting sales.

“I think eventually one of these days (e-books) will win out, like with the typewriter,” he said. “Eventually we’ll get it handed to us, but I don’t think we will right now.”

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truthchecker
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truthchecker 01/05/13 - 02:15 pm
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Another book category

You didn't mention audio books. There is a wide variety of unabridged books on cassette or CD available at libraries for people on the go.

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