Dispelling Five Myths about E-books

Abstract

A lthough 2000 was unofficially proclaimed as the year of the electronic book, or e-book, due in part to the highly publicized release of a Stephen King short story exclusively in electronic format, the dot-com bust would derail a number of high-profile e-book endeavors. With far less fanfare, the e-book industry has been slowly recovering. In 2004, e-books represented the fastest-growing segment of the publishing industry. During the first quarter of that year, more than four hundred thousand e-books were sold, a 46 percent increase over the previous year's numbers.1 E-books continue to gain acceptance with some readers, although their place in history is still being determined-fad? great idea too soon? wrong approach at any time? The answers partly depend on the reader's perspective. The main focus of this article is the role of e-book technologies in libraries.Libraries have always served as repositories of the written word, regardless of the particular medium used to store the words. From the ancient scrolls of Qumran to the hand-illuminated manuscripts of medieval Europe to the familiar typeset codices of today, the library's role has been to collect, organize, and share ideas via the written word.In today's society, the written word is increasingly encountered in digital form. Writers use word processors; readers see words displayed; and researchers can scan countless collections without leaving the confines of the office. For self-proclaimed book lovers, the digital world is not necessarily an ideal one. Emotional reactions are common when one imagines a world without a favorite writing pen or the musty-smelling, yellowed pages of a treasured volume from youth.One of the battle lines between the traditional bibliophile and the modern technologist is drawn over the concept of the e-book. Some see this digital form of written word as an evolutionary step beyond printed texts, which have been sometimes humorously dubbed tree-books.Although a good deal of attention has been generated by the initial publicity regarding newer e-book technologies, the apparent failures of most of them has begun to establish myths around the concept. Abram points out that the relative success of e-books in niche areas (such as reference works) is in direct contrast with public opinion of those purchasing novels and popular literature through traditional vendors.2 Crawford paraphrases Lewis Carroll in describing this confusion: "When you cope with online content about e-books, you can believe six impossible things before breakfast."3 Incidentally, this article will attempt to dispel a mere five of the myths about e-books.The future of e-books and the critical role of libraries in this future are best served by uncovering these myths and seeking a balanced, reasoned view of their potential. A 2002 consumer survey on e-books found that 67 percent of respondents wanted to read an e-book, and 62 percent wanted that access to be from a library. 4 Underlying this position is the assumption that the ideas represented by the written word ...

But I Want a Real Book”

“…Instead of "competing media,"-a metaphor that Gall considers counterproductive and inappropriate-perhaps a more apt description is one that relays balance. 21 Undergraduates certainly recognize the collaborative, flexible relationship between the two formats, and they seem to have found the middle ground between these perceived battling media. Which will win the format war in the future is not the right focus libraries and information technologists should be taking.…”

“…Currently, trends in the e-book market reflect concentrations in three areas: (1) Web-based aggregated collections with academic content, such as reference, business, and information technology; (2) audio e-books, due in large part to the combined popularity and ubiquity of Harry Potter audio books and iPods; and (3) a curious resurgence in dedicated e-book devices, such as the 2006 Sony Reader and the 2007 Kindle Reader from Amazon. to store the words." 4 As early adopters of e-books, college and university libraries have continued adding these electronic texts and other multimedia to library collections. For students in an academic environment, Web-based electronic books such as netLibrary offer twenty-four-hour access to research orientated e-content from anywhere, whether it is a wireless laptop or a dorm-room desktop.…”

Electronic Books: How Digital Devices and Supplementary New Technologies are Changing the Face of the Publishing Industry

“…The digital age has spawned an e-publishing revolution and cultivated the growing prevalence of e-books. In his article, ''Dispelling Five Myths about E-books,'' Gall [51] presents five myths about e-books, which he then disproves. He lists the myths as follows:…”

“…In contemporary literary culture, ''the written word is increasingly encountered in digital form'' [51]. The digital age has spawned an e-publishing revolution and cultivated the growing prevalence of e-books.…”

El libro electrónico y digital en la ecologí informacional: avances y retos

“…Como señala Gall (2005), hay muchos mitos sobre los libros electrónicos y uno de los más importantes es que resulta fácil definirlos.…”