Yes, I am a trained media specialist. Yes, I love technology and online databases. Yes, I understand economics, profit and the bottom line. But I love printed books. Old ones, used ones, borrowed ones, new ones. And this just seems like the death of Book Beast. That flashback I had was this: In 1983, my wonderful mom purchased a set of World Book Encyclopedias from a neighborhood friend (remember those days? neighbors selling encyclopedias?). Ever the book-fanatic, I was so excited when they arrived. I helped mom unpack the box. While she decided the best place to put them on display, I opened the first volume, relishing the crackly burst of the brand-new spine, the soapy, woody smell of shiny paper, and the tons of knowledge inside. That is what ran through my head when I heard the announcement. It made me sad to think there could be a day centuries from now where a young girl like me would not know that experience. I doubt we will see the death of bound books in our lifetime, if ever. That tactile satisfaction, the comfort of the heft, the smell...these are all part of the reading experience.
For now, World Book and other, more subject-specific publishers will still be producing print versions. For those of use who want to research current information from Encyclopedia Britannica, we must be connected. And honestly, it is a wonderful resource, free to Georgia residents via Galileo.
Image courtesy of http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/after-244-years-encyclopaedia-britannica-stops-the-presses/
