The Pew Internet has released a report titled 'E-book Reading Jumps; Print Book Reading Declines.'
The population of e-book readers is growing. In the past year, the number of those who read e-books increased from 16 percent of all Americans ages 16 and older to 23 percent. At the same time, the number of those who read printed books in the previous 12 months fell from 72 percent of the population ages 16 and older to 67 percent. Overall, the number of book readers in late 2012 was 75 percent of the population ages 16 and older, a small and statistically insignificant decline from 78 percent in late 2011.
The report notes that in all, the number of owners of either a tablet computer or e-book reading device such as a Kindle or Nook grew from 18 percent in late 2011 to 33 percent in late 2012. As of November 2012, some 25 percent of Americans ages 16 and older own tablet computers such as iPads or Kindle Fires, up from 10 percent who owned tablets in late 2011. And in late 2012 19 percent of Americans ages 16 and older own e-book reading devices such as Kindles and Nooks, compared with 10 percent who owned such devices at the same time last year.
According to the report, this move toward e-books has also affected libraries. The share of recent library users who have borrowed an e-book from a library increased from 3 percent last year to 5 percent this year. Moreover, awareness of e-book lending by libraries is growing. The share of those in the overall population who are aware that libraries offer e-books has jumped from 24 percent late last year to 31 percent now.
The data analysed in this Pew Internet report was gathered during October-November, 2012. A PDF version of the complete report is available online at http://libraries.pewinternet.org/files/legacy-pdf/PIP_Reading%20and%20ebooks.pdf.
