| There are numerous Universities and Libraries now | | | | distances in a car, this benefit could be even more |
| researching how to revolutionize the way people read | | | | effectively utilized. |
| and study. The eBook Reader, an electronic device | | | | Great Storage Space |
| that can easily be carried with an individual like a | | | | Many of the most popular Readers provide storage |
| traditional book, is an integral part of this cutting-edge | | | | space to accommodate around 1500 books. This |
| technology. The Reader is typically smaller than a | | | | would allow the student to have textbooks, term |
| basic book and reads any documents that you might | | | | papers, research documents, and even novels for |
| normally read from a computer. The eReader can hold | | | | pleasure reading all in one simple location. |
| multiple documents and therefore would totally | | | | Sense of Familiarity |
| eliminate the need for students to carry around multiple | | | | Although some baby boomers seem to want to touch |
| textbooks at one time. | | | | and feel the real book, the generation of today, is far |
| In addition, students are often working with a number | | | | more familiar with holding an electronic device in their |
| of electronic documents for research projects and this | | | | hand. Thus, the eBook Reader would not only be |
| would eliminate the need to access a computer to | | | | comfortable but familiar to the college student today. |
| review the documents. Handouts, term papers, forms, | | | | Create Space in the Dorm Room or Small Apartment |
| spreadsheets, and a number of other documents are | | | | Any student who is trying to figure out how to create |
| often carried around from place to place by the | | | | more living space in a dormitory or small apartment |
| student. Almost all of the weight of the textbooks | | | | would certainly appreciate the benefits of a Reader. |
| could be lightened and almost virtually eliminated by the | | | | No longer would students sharing an area have to find |
| eReader. They typical machine weighs about 10 | | | | a place to locate all those textbooks, papers, and |
| ounces - less than one college textbook. | | | | documents when space is already at a premium. |
| Asked for his views on eBooks in education, Keir | | | | Cost |
| Graff, Senior Editor of Booklist Online responded "How | | | | By producing eBooks, the university could reduce their |
| long do you have? Personally, I think they make great | | | | overall cost. Ebooks would not wear out like |
| sense for school and for reference." (Direct Contact | | | | textbooks, nor would the university have to be |
| PR) | | | | concerned about books being sold back or leased |
| Listed below are 7 reasons why the Universities | | | | books returned. This cost savings could be passed |
| should consider converting textbooks to eBook | | | | down to the student. |
| Readers: | | | | Although there are still a few issues to be worked out |
| Elimination of Certain Health Problems | | | | with having eBook Readers for college students, the |
| Back problems are becoming more and more | | | | pros probably by far outweigh the cons. One issue |
| prevalent in young adults and many people in the | | | | that is being considered is how one might be able to |
| medical profession are attributing this to book bags. | | | | simulate highlighting or writing in certain areas of the |
| Years of carrying heavy books on one's back can | | | | eBook. Many users would find that appealing since it is |
| certainly take its toll - even on the younger, more | | | | a study technique that has been utilized for many |
| healthy individual. This could be virtually eliminated with | | | | generations. |
| a Reader. Any one who has carried a heavy load for | | | | Another issue is of copyright and lending from |
| hours at a time can certainly empathize with the desire | | | | university libraries. The Harold B. Lee Library, the main |
| to lighten one's load. | | | | campus library of Brigham Young University, has |
| Ease of Use | | | | acquired Amazon Kindles as a pilot for lending to |
| Many people jump to an area of interest in a textbook | | | | students. One of the problems is that Amazon states |
| or a specific assigned chapter. This is not an | | | | that it is not permitted to lend them, and although |
| uncommon practice and is something that would not | | | | Amazon reps have verbally given the nod, this was |
| be prohibited when using a Reader. Current Readers in | | | | not put in writing. |
| the marketplace provide great simplicity when | | | | According to John Biggs, Technology Writer for The |
| searching for a specific topic or scanning for a topic of | | | | New York Times, "eBooks are the future. The Kindle |
| interest. | | | | and devices like it will replace printed text in the next |
| Read To Me Feature | | | | 30 years." |
| Many of the newest machines have a read-to-me | | | | Only time will tell whether John is right, and whether or |
| feature which offers many advantages to the student | | | | not the universities are willing to totally implement |
| of today. If the student is traveling to and from class or | | | | cutting edge technology such as the eBook Reader. |
| simply cooking dinner or doing activity that permits | | | | Their terms of use could be key in their decision. One |
| listening, the specific document, lesson, or information | | | | thing is for sure, however: the changes it would provide |
| could be read aloud to them which would allow for | | | | for the students are immense and vast, and certainly |
| multi-tasking and more production. When traveling long | | | | worth consideration. |