That is exactly right!

I've never 'read' an electronic book but liked the description above.
I would also add that when looking through a pile or a shelf of books, as soon as I pick out one that I have read before there is an instant 'recognition' either of the story/content or where I was when I read it, or maybe who gave it to me or the place I bought it from.
Is that the same for you?

I've never 'read' an electronic book but liked the description above.
I would also add that when looking through a pile or a shelf of books, as soon as I pick out one that I have read before there is an instant 'recognition' either of the story/content or where I was when I read it, or maybe who gave it to me or the place I bought it from.
Is that the same for you?

Yes! That's it exactly. There's something about a real book that the e-reader just doesn't deliver. Vee, I agree with you, too. A real book is able to conjure up far more through its physical presence than just a story on paper.

How well put! And another thing, they make you turn off an e-reader when an airplane is taking off or landing, no matter how good the part is where you are reading.

I went to a public meeting about the renovations of my public library. Some idiot woman stood up and suggested that the library get rid of all the clutter such as chairs and bookshelves! Can you imagine such a thing? She said no one reads hard bound books anymore, just e-readers, so bookshelves are not needed. I could have punched her. I love the feel of a real book in my hands and I can't imagine a library with no shelves and chairs. I wish I could send this to her but she wouldn't care anyway.

I hope she was soundly booed. Such heresy!

I wish! No, she was not. She was there with her cronies who do not want our library to be accessible to the handicapped. They say the disabled can just drive to the next town where the library is accessible.

Out of curiosity, what does she want to be in the library in place of the chairs and bookshelves?

She wants the entire library to be condensed onto one floor. It is currently on three floors, but is not handicapped accessible. The lower floor is the Children's Library, and the third floor is a Community Meeting room, a room with a special collection of local history (fascinating stuff) and a kitchen. She thinks the way to make it all accessible is to have everything on one floor -- doing away with bookshelves to make room for activities and meetings. This means that book discussion groups, children;s storytime and crafts, computer users, and readers will all share the same space. Can you imagine the racket?? Of course, everyone will either have to stand up or sit on the floor since she wants to get rid of the furniture. This suggestion is totally asinine.

dedtired, it sounds as though this woman might have a 'hidden agenda'. If she and her cronies managed to get everything squashed onto the one floor what would become of the empty space? Does she or her family maybe own the building, or the land on which it is built or the lot next door? Maybe she really wants to run the whole thing into the ground so the powers-that-be decide to sell the building and 'interested parties' can move in, knock it down and build a monster super market.
Perhaps she just wants the extra space for her coven to hold their weekly meetings.

Veer, you are exactly right. She and the members of her coven do not want our local government to spend any money on improving the building, which is owned by the Board of Trustees, although the library is part of a system of six libraries. However, the local gov't already pays for all the salaries, a large part of the collection, all the technology and the utilities. All other expenses are paid with money raised by the Board. The Board has long wanted an elevator and other changes to make the building accessible, but there is no way they can afford it. However, she and her friends are extreme conservatives whose only agenda is to curtail most govt spending. They are absolutely rabid about it, with little regard for the well-being of the populace.

dedtired, My God, how extreme can people get?
I know things are organised differently here in the UK ie money for libraries etc coming from the local County/City Council using funds from both central Govt. and the 'rates' though money has been drastically cut-back in recent years . . . but no citizen of whatever political persuasion would actively seek to down-grade a town's library services, nor would they dare suggest handicapped folk be denied access, especially in these PC days.
If your library is run by a Board of Trustees, there must be some legal agreement from when it was first set up. Worth reading the small print to check the wording. Look out for "to benefit the whole population of the town" or "for the education and enjoyment of future generations" etc.
Then tell them to stick it in their cauldron and give it a good stir.

Veer, you are right again! The Board does have a deed with an odd agreement. The building was owned by the Episcopal Diocese and built to be used as a community center, which it was for many years. The local folks then started a small library in the building and it grew over the years. In the early 1950's, the church gave the building to the library board with the stipulation that it always be used as a public library. Should it cease to be used that way, it returns to the church. Well, there is no thought that it be used in any other way because the community really loves the library.

One of the nay-sayers is now saying that the library is in fact a religious institution because of this clause and therefore cannot accept government money -- separation of church and state. It's insane.

Sarah, I apologize for hijacking your thread! My argument for bound books is that you can fall asleep with them on your face and also leave them on your beach chair while you go for a swim.

No apology necessary, dedtired. I've been flabbergasted by the local politics you've been describing. I hope the pro-library contingent wins out.

Thank you, Sarah. I saw this video and thought of this thread. It made me laugh. I hope you don't mind me posting it here. Paper vs electronic.

Here is a link that might be useful: paper is not dead.

LOL. That video is perfect, dedtired. Thanks for posting it.