[WEB4LIB] Why eBooks and When?

[LINDHOLM Janus L]

I am coming in a little late on this whole train, but I just couldn't resist
adding my two cents to Andrew's comment about children and interactive
e-books, especially as a parent.  Children are already over interacting with
electronics.  The image of a child sitting at a computer and having a book
read with all kinds of interactive resources may sound wonderful, but it is
so cold, so impersonal.  It isn't that I am anti-technology.  I have been in
the computer field for over 20 years.  I guess I'm looking more at the
social interaction, the isolation that computers create for those that use
them rather than humans for their entertainment and education....

The opinions that I express are mine and mine alone.  I am not speaking for
my library or my profession.

Janus Lindholm                 Applications Support Tech. Sr.
Eugene Public Library          541-682-6894
Eugene Oregon                  janus.l.lindholm at ci.eugene.or.us




> -----Original Message-----
> From: Andrew Mutch [mailto:amutch at waterford.lib.mi.us]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 12:58 PM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: [WEB4LIB] Why eBooks and When?
> 
> 
> I think eBooks will take off when we see the titles that can 
> truly offer
> something over and above what the normal printed book can do. 
>  The types of
> titles that I think have great eBook potential are things 
> like Children's
> picture books and graphic novels for teens.  How many 
> libraries have Children's
> stories on CD where the story incorporates music, video and 
> interactive
> features?  Many are based on traditional print stories but 
> have been turned
> into multimedia experiences where kids are willing to sit in 
> from of a computer
> for an extended period of time to read or be read to. Why 
> couldn't this same
> experience be available in an eBook?  Without that "edge" as 
> many people have
> noted, there is no compelling reason to read eBooks versus a 
> printed book and
> many reasons not to do so.  This type of eBook title could 
> justify the cost of
> the specialized hardware many people associate with eBooks.  
> I think we will
> continue to see growth in the digital reference titles and as 
> more students use
> eTextbooks, the demand for these titles will increase.  But I 
> agree, anyone
> into eBooks better be in for the long haul.
> 
> Andrew Mutch
> Library Systems Technician
> Waterford Township Public Library
> Waterford, MI
>