I'm not worried about too many hardcover and paperback books filling up our landfills. I hope we keep them on our bookshelves instead. Even if e-books don't save the planet, this greener publishing alternative is a healthier option for many. Do you like to read books on your laptop or e-reader? I still like the feel of turning paper pages, but I am gradually becoming a convert. I love the convenience of digial downloads and the fact e-books are greener because they cut down on paper use.
Now more and more libraries are offering free digital downloads that reside on your laptop for a couple of weeks--the length of the paper version of a library book check-out. Digital library downloads are not currently available in all formats.
According to a recent NYTimes.com article, e-books "cannot be read on Amazon’s Kindle, the best-selling electronic reader, or on Apple’s iPhone, which has rapidly become a popular device for reading e-books. Most library editions are compatible with the Sony Reader, computers and a handful of other mobile devices." Apple will be introducing a new e-reader tablet with a touchscreen next year. Perhaps the Apple tablet format that allows an impressive range of graphics to be displayed will change the way many of us view e-readers. This tablet sounds like a perfect fit for digital textbooks too.
E-books could be a healthier choice for your body too. Considering how heavy a student backpack can get with bulky textbooks, consolidating all the books in a slim e-reader is really good news for keeping backs happier also.
The cost of an e-book is often lower for customers and technically they never wear out. (With a puppy at home that chews anything made of paper or even resembling paper, this is really good news.) The average e-book sells for about $10 because online retailers subsidize their price. Unfortunately libraries can't buy a digital book for the same discounted price.
The concept of e-books in libraries is not popular with all authors and their publishers including Stephen King and Bob Woodward. Simon & Schuster has refrained from distributing e-books to libraries.
I am hoping more authors and readers will support e-books as the book hybrid for a healthier planet.
For more information on libraries that offer e-books check out this link on NYTimes.com.
