An interesting report on ebooks.
Most notable was that ebook sales account for 7% of total sales (keep in mind they are cheaper), and that almost 20% of Americans own an ebook. The greatest part was that 51% of Americans intend on reading print and ebooks in the future.
Late last night I decided that I wanted to read Harry Potter and the Deathly Shallows (mock me now). It was pretty late, so I just figured I would download it to my iPad through my Kindle app or iBooks. No such luck. As it turns out, Harry Potter is not available digitally, and yes I did check overdrive too.
This bothers me for a couple of reasons:
1. What are the publishers waiting for? eBooks are here to stay. The technology works, and prevents “theft” of their property, so what’s the hold up?
2. This is also an accessibility issue. There are people in this country, and internationally, who only have access to books through digital means. These people are barred from reading.
3. I prefer books like Harry Potter on the iPad, and I’m sure I’m not alone in that.
I’m sorry Arthur A. Levine Books, but I will not purchase any of your books now, until you make them available in the medium I want!
Filed under digital divide, eBooks
In a recent interview with Stephan King by the WSJ King opened up about where he thinks ereading is going and what publishing will look like. He made some interesting points:
1. He buys physical books even when he owns them digitally. This is for the stamp-collector type who wants to display books.
2. Keyword searching of eBooks is great, especially when no index exist, and lets face it, indexes are not what they used to be.
3. Digital books are great for disposable reading, and that is a large chunk of book sales.
4. Bookstores are empty (I disagree with this one, but hey I’m no Stephen King).
King also mentions that half of his reading is now digital, I would like to know if this includes email and web surfing too?
The writing is on the wall. eBooks are here to stay. If we are not ready, we will be replaced.
The Information Activist Librarian 