By Diana Sobey, Contibuting Parent

While many in my generation struggle daily to stay on the forward side of technology, I find the daily use of the Internet invaluable for gathering information. Whether it is the New York Times Op-ed page or researching a possible purchase in Consumer Report, the Internet has revolutionized the way we obtain facts, opinions and data. The availability of online libraries will affect our access to written works in ways we haven’t yet grasped completely, but they can never replace many experiences a reader can have with an actual, physical book.

I find the continued appeal of a hard copy book in both its aesthetics and its mobility.  A well-bound book is a pleasure to hold and see. Online books can’t compete with illustrations, leather bindings or even cover illustrations.  I love the feel of the paper between my fingers, the sense of accomplishment as the heft of balance changes from the beginning to the end, and the comforting familiarity when I walk past loved books in the bookcase.  I find sharing books I love with friends and family very gratifying, but when referring a friend to an Internet article, I have a more difficult time remembering where I read it.
Hard copy books are more portable and allow for an entirely different experience while reading. I can take a book with me to an appointment and read while I wait. I can sit outside on a beautiful day or on vacation at the beach and read. Who wants to curl up by the fire with a good computer?

Though many of us have notebook computers, online connections are not always convenient or reliable. A hard copy book needs no power source. Sitting at a computer screen reading an entire novel would cause back and eye strain.

Also, more intense or complex books sometimes require flipping back to reread certain passages.  I find that much easier with a set of pages in my hands rather than trying to remember where in the text to go back to on the computer. 

Certain types of books require a reader to physically possess them. Children’s books and art books need to be held and shared in a way that isn’t reasonable for an online book. Nothing can replace the times, for me, when my children sat in my lap and shared a book.  Especially when they were very young and half of the appeal was in turning the pages back and forth to favorite parts. 

Lastly, with online books I would miss the marvelous experience of browsing through libraries and bookstores. I have often found the most delightful reads in a bookstore purely by accident.  Something draws your eye and you start to read the blurbs and then you know that this is a book you may love.  That tangible array isn’t replicable with a computer. 

While I value all the information I can acquire from the Internet, I cherish the times I spend in the enjoyable endeavor of reading a book.