Wednesday, March 27, 2013
One of the biggest concerns facing lovers of the printed word has been the sharp increase of digital entertainment. People can now read books on electronic readers, watch DVDs, stream shows and movies through the computer, play video games, and much more. Many of these things can be accomplished without leaving the house - digital downloads have become the hot item of the moment. Just the other day I purchased a digital copy of a video game that was released in 1998. I do not even have the gaming system that it was originally created for, but I went to the online shop for the Nintendo and found out that the game I was interested in had been converted into a format that was playable on the Wii. With that much easy entertainment at our fingertips, what will become of good old-fashioned books?
It would be naïve to say that all of these new technologies have had no impact on books. At my library, we keep a list of bookstores in the area to hand out to patrons who ask. We frequently have to update the list to remove bookshops that have gone out of business. I have days where more people ask about eBooks, DVDs, and using our computers than questions about books. It happens, but I still refuse to believe that this is the beginning of the ends of books.
A recent article on the UK's Huffington Post website discusses the current trends in the digital world. Author Charlie Higson noted that while popular video game Call of Duty – Black Ops sold more copies than popular DVDs and CDs, but it was still bested by print copies of Fifty Shades of Grey. He goes on further to say that even though Fifty Shades was known as being an internet sensation, it has still made the vast majority of sales in print copies.
This is a fear that is constantly being brought up. Oh no! Books are disappearing and they will never return! I have seen multiple reports saying that new technology and eReaders will be the death of the printed book. My mother’s parents were convinced that buying her a record player would lead her to stop reading books. My parents were convinced that getting me any sort of gaming system would lead me to stop reading books. Amazingly enough it both cases, we continued to be voracious readers. In my own fairly short life I have seen all sorts of technology come and go (I only recently got rid of my VHS player!), and the one thing that has remained constant is my overflowing bookcase.
I understand that there is a seeming threat to physical books with the influx of eReaders, but I see the two as a bit of a partnership. My patrons have embraced eBooks, but they also hold on to the idea of actually paging through a book. It is nice if we have a patron request a book that is currently checked out but available as an eBook – it gives options that did not exist before and it is certainly better than having to wait for the book to be returned. I asked a few friends of mine to think of the last six books they have read. How many were physical copies of books and how many were eBooks? I had a varied response, but quite a few people were pretty well split down the middle. Personally, mine was half books and half eBooks. I am still not concerned about the future of books. All I have to do is see the look of joy on a patron’s face when he or she comes in to pick up the book they’ve been on hold for since November to rest assured that books are still alive and kicking.
Newman, M. (2013, 03 21). Downloads, e-books and computer games still seen as second best to old world retail . Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/martin-newman/downloads-ebooks-computer-games_b_2925345.html?utm_hp_ref=uk
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Many people take vacations to “get away from it all.” Does this include technology? Not according to a study conducted by InsightExpress and cited by Andrea Smith on Mashable. Over 80% of the people surveyed said that they were bringing their cell phones along on vacation and that they would be checking personal e-mails. Other devices that were listed as being brought along were gaming devices, eReaders, CD/MP3 players, tablets, and digital cameras. The study surveyed adults with at least one child in the family who were planning on taking a vacation.
The study was seemingly conducted to determine how advertisers can best take advantage of vacationers using technology. What comes to mind for me are the barcodes on signs at many popular attractions telling you to scan them with your smart phone for more information. I have seen people from all over the world visiting Busch Gardens Williamsburg and pulling out their phones to scan the barcodes for deals and attraction information.
While I do not fall into the category of people surveyed, running across this article got me thinking. In December I went on a solo trip to London for two weeks. I did not take any electronic gadgets with me (though, to be honest, that was because I simply did not have an ounce of extra space for them!) The trip was my time to spend on my own and getting a respite from all of the daily hassles of my normal life.
I was perfectly fine without my cell phone, but I refused to give up technology on my trip. Every day I would stop into an internet café and spend 30 minutes to an hour checking on things. I did some online banking, checked my e-mail (personal, work, and school), set things up for my spring semester, confirmed flights, ordered taxis, and used social media websites. I was even able to Skype with my parents on Christmas Day. While some people may believe that staying connected like that defeats the purpose of vacationing, I was thrilled to be able to share my experiences as they were happening. (Plus, it helped my parents stop panicking when they knew was alive and well.)
I am taking another vacation in August to visit family in Guam. I plan on staying fully connected for this trip; I am taking my phone with me as well as loading my tablet up with eBooks. It will be about a 24 hour flight, and I will need as much entertainment as possible! It is great to leave all my worries behind and just enjoy myself, but for me part of that is staying in touch and connected. I think it is amazing and wonderful that I will be able to send my parents pictures of me and my nephews (who were born in New Zealand and whom I will be meeting for the first time) as they are being taken. I will be able to chat with my supervisor about my library’s Summer Reading Program and pay some bills – all while on the other side of the world.
Sass, E. (2006, June 30). Vacations provide no respite from gadgets. Retrieved from http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/45139/vacations-provide-no-respite-from-gadgets.html
Smith, A. (2013, March 23). Vacation disconnect doesn't mean leaving your devices behind. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2013/03/21/vacation-disconnect-devices/
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