By
David Hancock on April 05th, 2012
The results of a recent survey from The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project show that e-book consumers are reading over a third more books than their print-only customers. According to “The Rise of E-Reading,” released yesterday, the average reader of e-books says he or she has read 24 books in the past 12 months, compared with an average of 15 books by non-e-book consumers. For device owners, those who own dedicated e-book readers (such as the original Kindle or Nook) also stood out, having read an average of 24 books in the previous year vs. 16 books by those who do not own dedicated e-readers.
The number of American adults who say they have read an e-book also rose to 21%, compared to 17% reported in December, 2011. The jump comes following a holiday season that saw a spike in the ownership of both tablet computers and dedicated e-readers. Notably, while device ownership is surging, e-book consumption is still occurring on a range of screens. Of those who said they have read an e-book in the last 12 months, 42% said they have read an e-book on a computer; 41% on a dedicated e-book reader; 29% have read on their cell phone; and 23% on their tablet.
Meanwhile, print is still very much in the mix—some 88% of those who read an e-book in the past year also reported reading a printed book, and overall, in the past year, 72% of adults reported reading a print book, compared to the 21% who say they read an e-book (or 11% who listened to an audiobook). In “head-to-head competition,” respondents said they preferred e-books to print books when they want “speedy access and portability,” but preferred print for “reading to children” and sharing books with others—understandable since most e-book platforms do not allow for sharing. Although library e-books were not specifically addressed in the report, the survey did find that e-book consumers were more likely to have bought their most recent book, rather than borrowed it—also understandable given the current state of e-book lending in public libraries. E-book consumers also say they are more likely to start their search for books online.
“Every institution connected to the creation of knowledge and storytelling is experiencing a revolution,” noted Lee Rainie of the Pew Internet Project, one of the authors of the study, in a statement. “It’s now clear that readers are embracing a new format for books and a significant number are reading more because books can be plucked out of the air.”
About the Author
David Hancock is reported to be the future of publishing and is the Founder of Morgan James Publishing and The Ethan Awards. David has co-authored ten books including "Guerrilla Marketing for Writers", "The Entrepreneurial Author" and "The Best of Guerrilla Marketing". David also sits on the Advisory Board of the National Center for the Prevention of Community Violence and serves as President of The Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg.
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