[Maggie Leung]

I don't use public libraries, because I'd rather buy. I do support them, though, and I'd like to see them continue to serve those who can't afford e-readers. They need libraries the most. If libraries can afford loaner e-readers, great. If not, print is still needed to serve those without an alternative source for books. That's just practicality, not nostalgia.

Added, for nostalgia angle:

Just taking a long look around my book room now, I think my books are beautiful. They're mostly paperbacks, out of choice. I used to have access to loads of free and cheap books through work, and always opted for paperback, even when hardbacks were available for free. Beauty is subjective. I'd also see beauty in the room, largely emptied of print books, if most were digitized.

I think the writer tries to define beauty for others, as seen through his eyes. I'm curious about how old he is. Just my perspective, of course: The older I get, the more stuff I've accumulated. I like my stuff, but I can imagine getting rid of most of it and streamlining. Maybe that's a family trait. My Grandfather, heading into his 80s, widowed and scaled down to a one-bedroom apartment, started urging people to take whatever they wanted. He saw less and less need for stuff. What he valued was more time with family and friends.