Does Digital Publishing Mark The End Of Printed Books?

Many writers and publishers fear that the growing popularity may mark the end of printed and bound books. The basis for this fear of the growth of digital publishing lies partially in the trend in the music industry that shows steadily declining sales of albums and CDs while sales of downloadable digital singles are skyrocketing.

Sales of downloadable ebooks are also showing a steady increase. Many people find that these digital copies are much easier to transport stored as files in a computer or an ebook reader than carrying a hard copy from place to place. However, this trend is mostly limited to works of nonfiction.

Readers who purchase novels for leisure reading still seem to prefer the look, feel, and smell of bound volumes that they can enjoy, place on a shelf, and enjoy again later. Yet, many established authors who have their own readership already established are giving out short sections, usually an opening chapter, on their websites to entice their readers to purchase the next new release as soon as it hits the market.

Individuals engaged in research for college papers, etc. Are finding that it is more convenient for them to carry digital copies of their reference materials to work with at their convenience than to purchase or check out from a library hard copies of the same works.