I find myself having the same conversations over and over these days. As a book lover, it's frustrating that many people — at least among non-book-lovers — can't predict the demise of books fast enough.
History is filled with famous book lovers, pontificating on their love of the printed word. But are books and book lovers still relevant in the 21st century?
Absolutely.
If you love to read more than the average fool, join me in educating everyone you know about these three misconceptions:
One: Books Are Going Away
This one's a given, right? Nothing could be further from the truth. Books are evolving, for sure, and over time more books will be read on a digital screen than on paper. But we need to update the definition of a book: It's not a pile of bound paper. It's a long-form composition or literary work, regardless of the medium on which it is presented. A book on a Kindle is every bit as much of a book in hardcover format, just as Terminator is still a movie whether you see it in the theater or at home on a DVD. And have you been on an airplane lately? It's filled with people reading their books.
Two: Libraries Are Becoming Irrelevant
Anyone who claims this simply hasn't been to a library recently. Libraries are busier than ever, as I was recently reminded by comments on my own blog. Ask any librarian and they will tell you the digital revolution has only spurred interest and activity at the local library. Many libraries offer free Internet access, job training, free digital downloads, and overnight Kindle loaners, in addition to printed books, magazines and other valuable material. The vastness of written content has only increased our reliance on libraries and librarians to help find what we need.
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