There’s a way to read a book that doesn’t require paper, ink, or even a book. An eBook is an electronic version of a printed book that can be read on a computer or handheld device. eBooks have been gaining popularity, especially over the past few years, directly impacting the sales of actual books.

“If there weren’t any bookstores, it would take away a huge part of my life.” sophomore Nell Buechler said. “I don’t like eBooks and I don’t use eBooks.”

It’s a simple relationship: as the sales of eBooks increases, the sales of physical books decreases. Therefore, according to OEDb.org (open education database), the number of bookstores in the United States is declining. Independent bookstores are going out of business, unable to keep up with the competition.

“I don’t see anything wrong with eBooks,” Librarian Amelia Bligh said. “I don’t think it’s going to make regular books go away.”

Also according to OEDb.org bookstores still sell more books than companies sell eBooks.

“I prefer real books. I need to feel it in my hands – the real thing,” Buechler said.

Not only are bookstores and libraries home of physical copies, but the experience of purchasing a book from an actual bookstore is different from buying an eBook.

“I do like going to bookstores. I get a little overwhelmed because there are so many good books,” Bligh said. “Now that I have a kid, I just go crazy at the bookstore.”

“I like bookstores because I’m surrounded by books and there’s usually coffee shops nearby – and I go in with my little coffee and I look at the backs of books,” Buechler said. “While physical books are something that people can interact with, bookstores themselves are, of course, physical and interactive as well.”

Some people, even in this generation, do not like the idea of a world without physical books. However, one can purchase real books without going anywhere but the mailbox. Websites that sell books fit somewhere in the middle between bookstores and eBooks. Certain people find this satisfying enough.

“I have to admit, I buy all my books off of Amazon for the most part,” Bligh said. “Collecting actual copies of books is a way to display them. For instance, no one knows how much a person reads if they’re only reading eBooks.

With my family, education and books are the things we value,” Bligh said. “When we go to somebody’s house, if they don’t have books or magazines or any reading material out, we’re kind of like – well, they’re not very well read.”