Reading tangible books may be back in style according to reports published last week by the Book Industry Study Group (BISG).
BISG first started publishing the report labeled "Consumer Attitudes Toward E-Book Reading" in 2009.
The research tracked the habits and preferences of print book consumers who say they had purchased an e-book or tablet reading device within the past 18 months.
The data stems from a nationally representative panel of book consumers that includes men, women and teens.
Researchers began with 65,000 consumers and from there they chose 1,000 consumers who had indicated that they had purchased a digital e-reading product.
The study found that fewer consumers are purchasing E-readers and more are converting back to paper and bind reading materials.
According to the report, the percentage of e-book consumers who purchased books in electronic format has decreased from 70 percent in August 2011 to 60 percent in May 2012. Also, the number of consumers who have no particular preference in how they read book rose from 25 percent to 34 percent.
The study suggests that reverting back to paper books has been growing steadily ever since Amazon first released the Kindle in 2007.
The survey appears to be a publisher's fantasy. The research also gives the hopeful idea that brick-and- mortar book stores have a chance for survival.
Some e-reader experts and skeptical analyst alike feel that the data might be askew or unleveled.
BISG said in a statement that the survey itself was conducted independently by Bowker Market Research, a New jersey-based research company, and to be sure the results are dependable.
The report has also documented that the Kindle Fire is the product of choice when consumers are purchasing e-readers. According to BISG figures, ownership of the Kindle Fire has grown from 7 percent to 20 percent in just six months. Ownership of the iPad has remained stagnant at 17 percent. Barnes and Noble's NOOK is reportedly the worse device when it comes to reader ownership.
While brick-and-mortar bookstores still account for the largest percentage of books sold, that number is also dropping. In 2011, physical bookstores accounted for 31.5 percent of publishers' total net dollar sales, down 12.6 percent from 2010.
So even if booklovers are showing signs of ink withdrawal, it might only be a quick fix to a continuing problem.
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