A Turn Up For eBooks?

For those of us studying in this age of rapidly developing technology, it is almost impossible to imagine what university would be like without the current profusion of modern technology at our disposal. Online journal articles, academic forums and internet resources are a catalyst to learning, and have been invaluable in making the educational experience infinitely more convenient. The need for filing reams of paperwork and arduous manual cataloguing of books and journals has become a thing of the past, but just how far are we willing to forsake the time honoured tradition of the printing press?

The arrival of eBooks on the market has had an astounding impact on the publishing industry. The eBook phenomenon is hardly a recent development, with the earliest commercial eBook site appearing online in 1994; however, it seems that the use of eReaders has become more commonplace, particularly following the 2010 Christmas period. IT analyst firm, Gartner, has revealed that sales of eBook readers rocketed by 79.3% between 2009 and 2010, with net sales of eBook readers reaching a whopping 3.6 million worldwide.

There are evidently pros and cons to such a proliferation in cyber media. The prospect of an entire library in the palm of your hand is one of the more obvious attractions offered by these sleek, featherlight gadgets. It takes little consideration in order to realise that this eradicates the necessity of lugging a bag full of weighty books to and from the library each time essay completion deadlines loom. Students struggling with meagre funds for textbooks can find discounted versions online, with downloadable eBooks from retailers such as Waterstones, WHSmith and Amazon averaging between 10% and 20% cheaper than their printed counterparts, not to mention an abundance of free literature offered by unit manufacturers. The price range for an eReader can range from anything from around £79.99 upwards (Elonex 500EB 5" Colour TFT eReader, Waterstones), with some of the most expensive on the market costing over £229 (BeBook Neo, BeBook.com). In terms of cost efficiency and practicality, it seems that the eBook reader is the perfect solution to the aggravating issues which students must face throughout their academic lives.

As far as wider contemporary issues are concerned, the eBook industry is also good news for the environment. Around 30 million trees are sacrificed annually for the publishing industry, a problem which online storage has already been proven to be extremely effective at combating. It has also been speculated that the eBook franchise could be a stepping stone for undiscovered authors, just as iTunes has been known to help many unsigned artists on their way to success in the public eye.

However, this technological twist on the written word has been heralded by a groan of dread from many avid book lovers. Will our obsession with technology lead to the death of a vital component of our national pride? Of our bookstores, libraries and the art of printing? The pleasures of browsing bookshelves, leafing through long forgotten dusty tomes and passing along the legacy of a favourite tale in battered, dog eared, yet long cherished paperbacks are all an undeniable part of the traditional literary experience.

In addition, economic pressure on media industries could go from bad to worse if eBooks fall prey to piracy in the same way as films and music have through the medium of the internet. A recent article by the BBC revealed that HMV is set to close 60 stores across the nation as the popularity of downloadable material overtakes that of buying products in store. It would surely be a travesty to see bookshops suffer the same fate, whether they are popular corporations such as Waterstones, or privately owned stores offering rare and unique books.

Whether you are a technophile or a technophobe, the format of literature itself should not enhance a reader’s experience of the work. It seems unlikely that avid readers across Britain would abandon their beloved book collections amassed over the years in favour of a shiny new gadget. The eReader has the potential to solve a great many crises for literature enthusiasts, but vigilance is required if we are to safeguard the literary traditions which have shaped us as a nation, as well as the economy which keeps them alive.

Yasmin Morgan-Griffiths