eBooks replacing paper books in educational institutions-A feasibility study

In the world we are living today, digitalization has set its foot in almost every section of society and has become inseparable.

Whether it is work or education, everything you see has a bit of newness or upgrades, so are the traditional books are replaced by digital textbooks in the modern world.

Before understanding the difference between ebook vs print book, let us first grab some knowledge of ebooks and why it is widely accepted.

eBook- The Meaning

An ebook or a digital book is just an electronic version of a typical hard copy book that you can access from any gadget like a computer, mobile, or any eLearning device/ e-reader.

This e-learning space requires internet connectivity, which opens a whole new world of learning for the learners; the upper-level or college-level e-textbooks provide you with the information and allow you to download additional apps and help in topic-wise surfing.

eBook vs Paperbook- Why the Shift?

Though printed material has its inherent traditional status and other advantages like good readability, it seems that its drawbacks have overthrown its power to engage over time.

You must be wondering what drawbacks?

First - Many trees need to be cut down to produce paper for traditional books.

Believing to some environmental surveys, the yearly consumption of paper for the production of books and newspaper is nearly 1.63 million tons.

The paper requirement can be cut down to one-third by switching to ebooks.

Second- The production process and shipping involve greenhouse gases, and shipping alone accounts for 12% of marine pollution.

By shifting to e-textbook, you can eliminate these risks and ensure a cleaner environment.

As the demand for e-textbooks has increased, the need for professional ePublishing services has also been quite a thing. Educational institutions prefer building digital libraries over book rental or subscription models these days.

Though this domain has just initiated embracing the process of eBook conversion, rapid and massive growth is expected soon as these institutions have started seeking eBook conversion service providers and tools capable of supporting learning instructions and services.

According to a survey of educational institutions

• More than 90% of the respondents expect an increase in eBooks in the next two years.
• Nearly 60% have reported that only 10% of the total books present in their schools are eBooks.
• Whereas 50% predict that in the next two years, at least 40% of the books in their school will be in the electronic version.

Library purchase model

• 40% prefer purchasing eBooks in the Library model, where schools and students who own the texts can use books on their devices.
• 15% plan to execute a pure subscription fee for students to grant them access to the library.
• 5% are looking forward to renting books in a time-limited single checkout per rental model.
• 40% are not having enough information regarding the subject to express their preference, or they were not, in fact, sure regarding what they wanted.

Students’ interests

• 50% are excited about digital books created by expert eBook conversion companies
• Nearly 10% of students still prefer to be old-school.
• 40% of students are neutral in expressing their preferences

eTextbooks vs Textbooks- Advantages

The technology-driven world is witnessing a shift of preference from the traditional style of education to modern learning via eBooks. The acceptance of an eBook over a textbook is because of the various advantages.

• Portable & Handy

  

  No matter where you are, access to eBooks is accessible even while moving. And instead of carrying various printed books, you only need to carry a single device with all the required files, which makes it quite handy and is much more convenient than carrying multiple books physically.

• Convenient Access to Information

  

  While using an ebook, you can instantly download any piece of information you want to read. This makes access to information easy and eradicates hassles of ordering, delivering books, going to a library searching for a book related to your topic, etc.

• Ease of Readability

  

  One of the advantages of textbooks that are considered to be the best of all among readers is the ease of reading.

  In traditional textbooks, the issues related to font size, print quality, improper lighting were common, but with modern technologies, readers have the liberty of changing font sizes in their ebooks; the text is clear, and built-in backlighting enables them to read even in the dark.

• Environment Conservation

  

  As mentioned above, one of the significant advantages of using digital books over paper books is that ebooks reduce the need for paper, which ultimately results in less cutting of trees.

  With global warming already taking a toll on our environment, it is better to choose the digital way for learning and teaching requirements.

• Affordable

  

  It goes without saying that when all your requirements are just a download away, you can cut those extra pennies you spent on purchasing different books; also mention shipping or delivery charges when you order them online.

  Digital books are far cheaper than hard-bound copies as you only have to pay for what you read. It is highly cost-effective and helps you spend your savings in a better way, like investing in hobbies, pursuing learning programs, etc.

• Solves Storage Issue

  

  We all, once in a lifetime, while pursuing a career, have faced storage issues when it comes to keeping traditional books in our homes or anywhere we study. With digital textbooks, consider this problem to be solved.

  By doing away with traditional paper books, you will have more space to utilize within the classroom and shelves in a much more refined manner.

  Moreover, these eBooks are really compatible, while digital learning modules can assimilate a vast amount of information, activities, project works, and the so-called online resources without fearing to protect them manually somewhere in your well-crammed cupboard.

• Interactive

  

  Digital textbooks are easy to use and are also an excellent interactive platform for the learner. Unlike the traditional textbooks with plain vanilla pictures, ebooks provide educational audio clips and many more such things at one given time.

Internet and digital media have proliferated significantly over the past few years. We are now systematically and continuously connected to the Internet of Things, which has indeed made modern lives easier. So, while projecting the future, one can confidently say that eBooks will eventually replace traditional print books, mostly in academic institutions. With a notable increase in ePublishing services, this shift from traditional textbooks to digital books is quite evident.

More and more tech-savvy kids are leaning towards the digital replicas of heavy paperback books, not just for the ease of access, but also for the interactivities that come with eBooks. And this has spiked the demand for eBook conversion service providers more than ever.

However, to facilitate seamless eBook adaptations, publishers must ensure that the eBooks they publish live up to the expectations of their target audience. And that’s why professional eBook conversion companies must be consulted with those who are backed by professional experts.