eBooks not for everybody

[leebase]

I was at my local CheapCuts getting a haircut and noticed a library book my stylist had at her station.

This led to a discussion about kindles and such. Thing is....I really couldn't recommend she get an ereader, even though they are $79. Her tastes did not run to old, out of copyright works. She isn't the type to buy books.

She reads from her library and used books her mother finds for her at garage sale.

She is probably best served continuuing to user her library and buying garage sale books.

Lee

[elemenoP]

unless her library offers ebooks, that is!

eP

[ucfgrad93]

Of course ebooks aren't for everyone. We all have different needs, wants, etc. I love them however, my college age daughter would rather read a physical book.

[The Terminator]

That is for the Kindle though, most Library's offer ePub lending.

[HistoryWes]

As ebooks become the dominant media, it will become easier to check out ebooks from libraries than to get physical books. Admittedly, neither the libraries nor publishers seem to be helping this along, but I think it will get there eventually. Garage sales should be a good source of books for generations, but as new books become the old ones, that too will change.

[abookreader]

I agree that eBooks aren't for everybody.
I don't see her reading habits as being mutually exclusive to digital reading though, especially with the lower prices of the devices. Garage sale books are cheap, but it does cost time, gasoline, and a small amount of money to obtain them. You are also counting on being able to find books you want to read in the community garages.

There's really no reason she couldn't pick up a cheap eReader and utilize Library Overdrive for some of her books and other free and low cost digital sources, and then still pick up her garage sale finds when she runs across them.

[toddos]

Originally Posted by HistoryWes

As ebooks become the dominant media, it will become easier to check out ebooks from libraries than to get physical books. Admittedly, neither the libraries nor publishers seem to be helping this along, but I think it will get there eventually. Garage sales should be a good source of books for generations, but as new books become the old ones, that too will change.

"will become"? It already is! I personally hadn't had a library card in over a decade until I picked one up a year or so ago. The only reason I did was to get access to their ebooks, and I've only physically set foot in my local library once to pick up my card.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by toddos

"will become"? It already is! I personally hadn't had a library card in over a decade until I picked one up a year or so ago. The only reason I did was to get access to their ebooks, and I've only physically set foot in my local library once to pick up my card.

I don't think it's quite there yet. While it might be so in your case (and here on MR), I reckon majority of folks haven't quite made that jump yet. Grand total of ebooks in our local library (not counting Project Gutenberg): 300. Paperbooks: over 10,000.

[Barcey]

Soon she'll pick up a used ereader at a garage sale for $20 and it will have a couple hundred books on it.

[CazMar]

Originally Posted by Barcey

Soon she'll pick up a used ereader at a garage sale for $20 and it will have a couple hundred books on it.

Yes, like computers that get passed down the family to parents, aunties and grandparents when the family technohead updates to the latest and greatest new toy. Another year or so of new ebook readers and tablets will probably see this trend snowball.
That's when public demand for library ebooks will really take off, as those parents, aunties and grandparents are often the homeowners and vote in local elections. Heaven help any local councillor in our area who tries to cut library funding!

[jtdolphins]

Originally Posted by CazMar

Another year or so of new ebook readers and tablets will probably see this trend snowball.
That's when public demand for library ebooks will really take off, as those parents, aunties and grandparents are often the homeowners and vote in local elections.

My library has been pushing ebooks a lot lately with a variety of classes for people, but their selection isn't very good yet. Funds have been cut again, so I don't see that improving. They are trying improve ebooks, but its low on the list because it doesn't serve a lot of people yet. They need to move forward, but still serve the most people with reduced funding. Tough times for them.

They do plan or maybe started loaning Nooks, which were donated by Barnes and Nobles. I must say Barnes and Nobles has been busy busy busy sponsoring ereaders activities at our local library. I am glad they are funding some of it.

[carpetmojo]

Originally Posted by CazMar

.......... Heaven help any local councillor in our area who tries to cut library funding!

A point that may be of interest...

Here in Somerset, the council saw the library service as a soft target, and put in train a swathe of cuts to libraries, hours, staff, the lot.
Then an eagle-eyed objector spotted a legal requirement on the council, to provide a satisfactory full service.
At considerable cost/risk, and a large protest movement in papers and media. a group formed to take the Council to court.
They won, and the authority has withdrawn plans, even suggested it will expand some features.
The People won, the "representatives" bowed to the result.
A lot of verysharp eyes now will be making sure they don't try it again.

[HansTWN]

The first printing machine manufacturers are going belly up already (Heidelberger Druckmaschinen). So paper books will be a small niche market quite soon.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by carpetmojo

A point that may be of interest...

Here in Somerset, the council saw the library service as a soft target, and put in train a swathe of cuts to libraries, hours, staff, the lot.
Then an eagle-eyed objector spotted a legal requirement on the council, to provide a satisfactory full service.
At considerable cost/risk, and a large protest movement in papers and media. a group formed to take the Council to court.
They won, and the authority has withdrawn plans, even suggested it will expand some features.
The People won, the "representatives" bowed to the result.
A lot of verysharp eyes now will be making sure they don't try it again.

... and, inevitably, something else will suffer as a result. Perhaps they'll cut the education budget, or "meals on wheels", or adult education. All these things have consequences. It's all very well to say "libraries are important". Yes, of course they are, but so are lots of other things. If the council has to cut its budget, the library service has to take its share of cutbacks along with everything else.

[ProfCrash]

I guess the thousands of out of copyright books that can be downloaded onto an e-reader for free from places like Mobile Read just would not work for her.