Team eBooks vs. Team Printed Books, Which One Are You?

With spring coming, we can enjoy fragrant flowers and the crisp cool breeze. We hear the birds chirping and the kids playing on the streets. Then spring turns to summer, then fall, and then winter before the cycle repeats itself. Unlike the seasons, one thing remains constant for book lovers: a cozy place to lose themselves in a world full of possibilities.

In the words of Jorge Luis Borges, “I have always imagined paradise will be a kind of library.” Reading books has become a status symbol among millennials. The more books one reads, the more they are taken seriously, as they should be.

Benefits of eBooks

Thanks to technology, we don’t need to physically carry books anymore. eBooks can be very convenient for the following reasons:

• Easily portable

We can read them on apps and across devices, anywhere and anytime.

• Instantly available

No need to wait for shipping or to make time to go to a book store.

• No late library fees

Unlike physical books, we don’t need to return eBooks. 

• Built-in dictionaries

When you come across a word you don’t know, you can quickly find the definition when reading digitally. 

• Font and text size customization

You can make the text bigger and more readable. This is especially helpful for those who are visually impaired. 

Drawbacks of eBooks 

Despite all of these advantages, there is a flip side to eBooks too:

• Reliance on the internet

When the power goes out or we otherwise don’t have electricity or internet, we can’t access eBooks. 

• Too many buttons

With our short attention spans, it’s hard to focus on what we’re reading if there are links and buttons all over the pages.

• Eye strain

Reading words on a backlit surface puts strain on our eyes. After working or studying all day on screens, the last thing anyone needs is more screen time

• Restricted access

In 2002, Google embarked on an ambitious book-digitizing project. Their stated goal was to give readers digital access to millions of in-copyright books. It would also create a new market for authors and publishers to sell their work. Additionally, the project would help library partners maintain their collections while making books more accessible to students, readers, and academic researchers. 

However, conscious visionaries and advocates are discontented with this program. They felt Google was setting up a wall around digitized books, restricting access to information and knowledge. Did they intend to let people buy and ‘own’ the books or have limited access to them because of the need to pay monthly subscription fees?

Benefits of Printed Books

Physical books offer unique benefits that eBooks can’t replace or replicate. Here are just a handful of them:

• The smell of a new book
• Written notes and thoughts on an old book passed down from generations
• Improved focus and memory retention

One of the main reasons for the last benefit, according to Anne Mangen, is: “The haptic and tactile feedback of a Kindle does not provide the same support for mental reconstruction of a story as a print pocket book does, the fixity of a text on paper, and this very gradual unfolding of paper as you progress through a story is some kind of sensory offload, supporting the visual sense of progress when you’re reading.”

In a survey of 400 students between 18 and 26 years of age, 92-94% said they concentrate best when reading a printed book. Other studies showed people who read printed books tended to be more empathetic than those who read digital books.

How To Make Printed Books More Eco-Friendly

As far as the materials required for physical books, the process (creation process, binding, transportation, and disposal) can have a detrimental effect on the Earth.

There are ways to counter some of those effects with a community-based approach. Here are some ways:

• Joining ‘give a book, take a book’ programs
• Sharing copies of books with friends
• Buying used books
• Choosing eco-conscious vendors and stores

Conclusion:

At Green Schools Green Future we understand no matter what we do, there is an environmental consequence. We encourage people to understand the pros and cons and trust them to make the appropriate decision.