Week 16 - Last Prompt!

I consider myself lucky that I’ll be able to tell my daughter (who I will finally get to meet this Wednesday – yay for babies) that I remember going to the bookstore when I was younger, browsing the shelves, and picking out physical books. The thrill I felt when I held a brand new paperback copy of a Babysitter’s Club book is one that I still clearly remember to this day! I learned to read with physical books, but I do remember learning the alphabet when I was 3-4 on a brand new (now ancient) IBM PC. However, eBooks were still years off in the future for me. I think it’s amazing – and sad- that so many book stores have gone out of business due to the rise in eBooks and changes in book publishing in general. I want to say that the amount I read has remained consistent over time, but I’ve always been a voracious reader (and everyone knows the reading load in grad school is quite heavy!) I now prefer to read titles in eBook format over physical books, but I still love getting my hands on a first edition with yellowed pages and a musty aroma!

I used to go to the public library when I was a child for special events, the summer reading program and to get VHS tapes and cassettes/CDs as they became available. Now, I use my public library for a combination of digital materials (downloadable audiobooks, eBooks, databases, streaming music and video via Hoopla, etc.) and for programming. My school libraries were always well stocked, and available to students to browse on free periods or during designated times. I’m appalled and dismayed at how many school libraries are closing or have such limited hours and collections!

Road trips and traveling used to be difficult for my family. I was a shy, quiet only child who lugged around bags full of books everywhere I went. Now, I can hold as many titles (in eBook AND audiobook format) as I could possibly ever desire right on my phone, tablet or laptop. I definitely 'sample' more titles now that I'm able to preview the first chapter or few pages on Amazon or OverDrive. 

I’m curious as to what will happen in regards to physical and digital book collections in the next 20 – and even 5 – years. I’ve seen such a struggle with public libraries and DRM in the past few years. Trying to work with vendors and publishers to acquire rights to offer certain titles to the public is a constant struggle, and is one that I certainly hope improves in the future, for everyone’s sake!

I already see larger portions of collections budgets increasing in the future for eBook acquisitions at my library. I expect digital users to exponentially increase as the cost of readers continues to drop (Amazon Paperwhite is down to $49 for Mother’s Day!), and users become more aware and familiar with digital collections. I already see titles becoming more interactive, especially children’s titles. Vooks (http://promo.simonandschuster.com/vook/) and similar interactive titles combine multimedia directly into the eBook.

I sincerely hope that reading statistics at least stay at current levels or increase in the future, but I really do believe that a lot of that depends on how well libraries are able to read their patrons. If libraries are offering titles that patrons truly have an interest in, in ways that they are able to access them, physical trips to the library may in fact decrease, but the ‘virtual patron’ experience will hopefully become more seamless and effortless for the patron.

The traditional publishing world will still continue to drastically change over the next few years. Self-published authors and services that offer users the chance to pay as they go (Netflix type services for eBooks, like Entitle) will most likely continue to gain in popularity in one form or another. With services like Total Boox for public libraries, patrons can even legally download and keep (forever!) certain titles.

When I was very young, one of my favorite parts of the school year was always the Scholastic Book Fair that came to my school library. It was SO exciting, and I would save up all of my allowance to buy such literary masterpieces as Captain Underpants and every. single. Goosebumps. title. ever! Now, I can browse out of print, limited run, international editions and hard to find titles within seconds online. The entire way we purchase and consume titles has forever been changed, and I think it's definitely for the better - although I still love going to book stores! 

Even the way I find out about new titles has changed. With sites like GoodReads, social media, and tools like NoveList, I can find out about new books and reviews from my friends and from people around the world. I used to just rely on the NY Times Bestseller List, but I feel that we have so many more options today!