Survey finds increase in e-reading, drop in paper
NEW YORK (AP) — The tastes of the reading public are turning digital.
A Pew Internet Research Center survey released Thursday found that the percentage of Americans aged 16 and older who read an e-book grew from 16 percent in 2011 to 23 percent this year. Readers of traditional books dropped from 72 percent to 67 percent. Overall, those reading books of any kind dropped from 78 percent to 75 percent, a shift Pew called statistically insignificant.
Those owning an e-book device or tablet jumped from 18 percent to 33 percent, with much of that increase coming from last year's holiday season, when millions received Kindles, Nooks and other e-readers as gifts.
Awareness that libraries offer digital texts grew from 24 percent to 31 percent.
The telephone survey of 2,252 people aged 16 and older was conducted from Oct. 15 to Nov. 10. It has a sampling error margin of plus or minus 2.3 percentage points.
A Pew Internet Research Center survey released Thursday found that the percentage of Americans aged 16 and older who read an e-book grew from 16 percent in 2011 to 23 percent this year. Readers of traditional books dropped from 72 percent to 67 percent. Overall, those reading books of any kind dropped from 78 percent to 75 percent, a shift Pew called statistically insignificant.
Those owning an e-book device or tablet jumped from 18 percent to 33 percent, with much of that increase coming from last year's holiday season, when millions received Kindles, Nooks and other e-readers as gifts.
Awareness that libraries offer digital texts grew from 24 percent to 31 percent.
The telephone survey of 2,252 people aged 16 and older was conducted from Oct. 15 to Nov. 10. It has a sampling error margin of plus or minus 2.3 percentage points.
A real book is better. No batteries no whatever. Even if down to just a candle. Easier to read in bathtub.Â
Reading a real book is more fun than reading an e=reader.
I love reading on my e-reader, don't need light and it's easier on my eyes. I've found myself reading much more.
 @deejm2112 This ^
I bought an e reader for $69 which is the same price as a cheap book shelf. It requires a little spot on my desk when not in use. Since I usually have 4 or 5 good sized bookshelves overflowing this will save me space which means I can actually have less square footage in a house. Many books are cheaper (even when considering used prices) in digital form. Instant delivery (I just bought a book for school that wasn't on the book list and had it in seconds).
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The down side is that in the event of a zombie apocalypse you may not be able to charge your reader or obtain new books.
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I have always loved the feel of a book in my hand but I have to admit that I would love to convert all my books to digital and have more of my house and less to dust.Â
This is good. Reading papers or books made of paper is environmentally unfriendly. It just pollutes the system with more land fill, more trees cut down, more energy used to make and transports newspapers and books.
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What environmentalist in their right mind would use paper over an e-reader? I guess there are those hypocrites out there who somehow justify paper books which is a classic case of cognitive dissonance.