Real Books Spark
© iStockphoto/Thinkstock
as E-book Sales Flatten
New study finds that printed books have greater perceived value than e-books By Howard Riell
N
ew hot-off-the-presses research has found some surprising
things about the future of books. Ricoh Americas Corporation
recently commissioned IT Strategies to conduct a study in
conjunction with the University of Colorado. Among the key
fndings of the study: e-books' mindshare is overshadowed by
popular press headlines rather than factual data, and most consumers
do not see themselves giving up printed books—primarily due to the
benefts the physical form offers.
The study, entitled The Evolution of the
Book Industry: Implications for U.S. Book
Manufacturers and Printers found that,
among other things:
• Despite their perceived popularity,
60 percent of e-books downloaded are
never read in the US. "Since 2012, the
growth of e-books has slowed significantly as e-book-only sales are declining,
and tablet PC devices are increasingly
becoming utilized for other forms of
entertainment.
• College students prefer printed text-
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books to e-books as they help students
to concentrate on the subject matter at
hand; electronic display devices such as
tablet PCs tempt students to distraction.
• Current trends reveal that while fewer
copies of books are being sold, more titles
are being published.
• Digital printing of ultra-short runs
have empowered book printers to supply
books more tightly tied to actual demand.
• The top three reasons consumers
choose a printed book are lack of eye
strain when reading from a paper copy
QUICK PRINTING / January 2014
vs. an e-book, the look and feel of paper,
and the ability to add it to a library or
bookshelf.
Echoes of Twain
"More than 500 years after the invention of the printing press, book manufacturers and publishers are playing a pivotal
role in the next renaissance in books that
is happening now," says George Promis,
vice president of continuous forms, Production Solutions and Technology Alliances, Ricoh, in a statement. "To borrow
a phrase from Mark Twain, reports of the
printed book's death are greatly exaggerated. Print is alive, well, and sought after
in today's book market. At Ricoh, we're
focused on ensuring this stays true for
years to come."
One of the findings was that nearly 70
percent of consumers feel it is unlikely
that they'll give up on printed books by
2016. "Consumers have an emotional
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