by Julie A. Wein

Created on: August 01, 2011   Last Updated: November 29, 2011

There is nothing like the scent of a library full of dusty old books. A library smells like no other place you could ever imagine. Rows of shiny new books filling up the shelves in the local library is any avid reader's dream come true. That being said, books in the form that we know them, will always exist because there will always be people out there that prefer an actual book to simply reading one on an electronic device.

Since people started writing books, everyone is used to the traditional book with a nice cover, lots of pages, and maybe even some pictures or illustrations. Some people want to hold that book in their hands, feel the weight of it as they get deeper and deeper into the book, and smell the dusty old cover. For these people, an iPad, a Kindle, or a Nook, will never replace the satisfaction of having an actual physical book in their hand. Perhaps members of the younger generation, and future generations to come, will prefer to read their books on any number of electronic devices. But older generations will likely always prefer what they grew up on.

Many people will read a book when they are traveling by plane, train, or on another mode of public transportation. To be able to take a book out of one's purse or suitcase and begin reading it is far more convenient than having to boot up an electronic device, make sure there is enough battery life, and scroll through the books on the device until they find what they're looking for. A paper book doesn't have to be charged, isn't likely to get stolen, and unless it is very thick, most likely weighs less than an electronic device could.While there are advantages and disadvantages to both traditional books and devices such as iPads, books will not be made extinct by these advances in technology. There is still just as much a market for books as their is for the iPad.  

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but when one is browsing books in a store or library, the first thing they will see is the cover of the book and when they find a cover that catches their eye, they will most likely pick that book up and take a closer look. This isn't feasible when it comes to books stored on an electronic device. Therefore, it should be easier to pick a book of interest when one can clearly see the title of the book and any artwork on the cover.

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