Ebooks and Leisure Reading

A Case Study

Dr. Jessica Moyer and Jennifer Thiele

Paper in Conference Proceedings highlights previous research by Dr. Moyer on multi format reading

Findings: Format does not impact comprehension Format does not impact engagement

Ebooks and readers were relatively new and unknown to college age American students

Most would not choose to read ebooks Preference for print is based on physical and

emotional reactions to printed texts

Introduction

Two individuals were sent surveys and met with the researcher for a follow-up interview

Both individuals owned eBook readers—one owned the Kindle and the other, the Nook Color

Both people had read ebooks and were familiar with ebook use

Both individuals enjoyed the readers for their convenience and portability

Ebook users in their 50s and 60s

This participant is a heavy reader, reading approximately 2 hours a day on average.

This participant showed a strong preference for eBooks over written books, especially now that he is retired

Some of the most utilized features included newspapers and magazines, books from his local library, and having the book read out loud via the application on the Kindle/audible books online, although he wasn’t typically an audiobook user

Free Kindle books were appreciated by this user

Participant #1: The Kindle User

This participant also owns an IPAD and a smart phone

Some preferred features include news collecting applications such as Flipboard which includes news, blogs, and other sources in a magazine format

The participant mentioned interest in customizable reading sources

Participant used the option of posting on Facebook and Twitter

Portability was appreciated, especially when traveling or reading at the gym. Smartphones were often used in this manner.

Participant #1: Other technologies

This participant mentioned using his local library for checking out Kindle Books

As the individual had relocated from one state to the other, he remarked that the two library systems had very different eBook selections

He noted that checkout periods were longer in the state he “wintered” in and the selection was better than his home state consortia’s holdings

He remarked that he liked Amazon’s option to purchase the book after checkout period expired, as he sometimes would want to save highlighted text that would normally be lost

Participant #1: Library Issues

He noted that he wished his Kindle had both 3G and Wireless, as it was dependent on a Wireless connection for several functions.

He also stated that the Kindle screens were not great, and had limited capability for pictures and illustrations.

Participant #1: Disadvantages of the Kindle

This participant stated she read between 4-6 hours per week, including newspapers, with approximately 1-3 hours a month listening to audiobooks.

She stated her format preference depended on circumstance, with cleaning and travel periods dominated by audiobook utilization, while reading print books were typically done at home.

This participant was a member in several book clubs and literacy organizations

Participant #2: Nook Color User

The participant enjoyed the feature of being able to have her page kept bookmarked when the device was turned off.

She noted that the battery life was minimal which can be problematic while traveling.

One difficulty was also the inability to share the materials with friends and book club members.

Participant #2: Pros and Cons of the Nook Color

This reader loved audiobooks because the she felt the reader put the character into the story, making the mental picture easier than the actual reading. The mental image seemed to last long, and was better for multitasking.

Her favorite mode of listening was cassette tape when available.

Participant #2: Thoughts on Audiobooks

She stated that she had not yet checked out library materials for her Nook

She expressed interest in eBook classes by library staff or one on one eBook tutoring

Two of her children were using Nook devices, and they had also expressed interest in participating.

Participant #2: Library Use

Both individuals interviewed enjoyed the eReaders for their portability and convenience

Both individuals were moderate to heavy readers with interest in library eBook checkout

Both users enjoyed some of the features that the eBook readers had such as highlighting and Kindle voice.

Reading mode preferences often were task dependent—examples being reading on Smart Phones at the gym or listening to audio while cleaning

Conclusions

Individuals in their 50s and 60s are using eBooks and eReaders

These individuals are making use of not only the readers themselves but the features as well

The individuals in this study really liked their ereaders and were enthusiastic of what the future will hold for them as technology progresses.

Conclusions