Linktastic! posts happen when I finally remember to go through my unsorted bookmarks in Firefox and (more often) Tweets I have favorited for future reference on Twitter.
This edition features some different articles I’ve come across about e-books and reading. (It also comes with the definitive statement that I detest reading ebooks without an ereader. I have a phone and a laptop and let me tell you getting through an ebook on a combination of those two devices was torture. Maybe it’s easier with a task-specific ereader but gosh reading books on the computer feels a lot more like work than fun.)
- “Why Amazon Won’t Give You Free Digital Copies of Your Movies and Books” from Mashable: Amazon really wants to beat out Apple iTunes as a music shopping destination. In an effort to meet that goal, they are offering customers digital copies of all previously (and future) purchased CDs. It’s a good idea in theory but incredibly detrimental to the bottom line. And, basically, publishers know ebooks have inherent value on their own and are moving very slowly in terms of discussion of adopting a similar model. (via @tashrow of Waking Brain Cells)
- “Digital Reading on the Rise for Children (With a Qualifier)” from NYT: Kids like reading ebooks. Except when they don’t. And kids are reading more. Except when they aren’t. The article mentions a lot of the nuances but fails to point out that even if kids aren’t reading books on tablet devices they are definitely reading while networking socially (and maybe even playing video games). It talks about managing screen time but I always wonder how many kids (people even) do a lot of reading on their computers but never learn to count it as reading because it isn’t actually a book. Another fun fact: at bedtime kids mostly prefer regular books. (via @pwkidsbookshelf on Twitter AKA the youth publishing face of Publisher’s Weekly)
- “E-books could encourage reluctant young readers” from CBC News: E-books aren’t for me but if they make books and reading more accessible and appealing to reluctant readers that is rad. (via @bkshelvesofdoom from Bookshelves of Doom)
- “Rewrite time for National Book Awards” from AP Newsbreak: In an effort to widen conversation and stay relevant/popular, the National Book Award is making some changes including a long list that will whittle down to the traditional finalists. Non-writer judges including librarians, booksellers and critics will also be involved. My question is if these changes will also include improved announcement technology to avoid future Shine/Chime mishaps. (via @bookgirl96 and @lizb on Twitter)
- “Reading the Fine Print” by Oliver Sacks from NYT: Ebooks are well and good but often, sadly, they do not meet the very specific needs of vision impaired users. Which is why Large Print books are still so very important even as they become more and more scarce. (via I honestly can’t remember but possibly Marie Rutkoski of Liz Burns on twitter)
