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Reading Online

For the last decade all of my reading from the local library is been e-books and audio books borrowed online. I have been to the library that maybe a dozen times during that period. Before that J and I were there almost every other day. We borrowed and returned books, tapes, CDs and DVDs or just spent time there reading physical books. That was all so long ago that I have even forgotten what that felt like. Strangely, I have no desire to return to that way of life anymore. Sone people love and need the feeling of a physical book to make for a satisfying reading experience, I am not one of those. I love my Kindle and Kindle app that allows me to use snippets of time to catch up on reading. 

The Overdrive app has all my audio books which I can listen to whenever or wherever I have the opportunity for it. To me the idea of having my personal library available for use 24/7 is far more satisfying that the touch and feel of a physical book. Reading about the struggles libraries have with buying e-books is sad to read and it explains why a lot of what I would love to read is not available at the local library - they have likely been priced out by the publishers. As readers we tend to focus on what we desire to read and not as much on what it takes to fulfill that desire - starting with the writers and the full machinery of the publishing business. 

Till such time the writers and readers can come closer, overcome the layers of friction in between both sides will continue to struggle. Readers from lack of access what might truly capture their attention and imagination and writers from finding that loyal following that makes them truly successful. Today both sides are the mercy of the machinery that works as in intermediary - that system picks winners and losers, plays the role of a taste maker, establishes trends and decides what is popular and sellable. 

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