Last updated at 17:58, Sunday, 28 October 2012

A BATTLE is brewing among Barrow bookworms – between those staying loyal to the printed page and those switching to the pixelated screen.

BOOKWORMS: Bookseller Jo Rogan with a traditional paperback, and senior bookseller Hilary Gregson with the new Kindle FireHARRY ATKINSON REF: 50040211B001

The debate over the pros and cons of traditional paper books compared to their electronic foes is heating up as one local bookshop moves to cover both bases.

Barrow’s branch of Waterstones began a new chapter this week when it started stocking its shelves with Amazon’s Kindle e-reader devices.

The controversial deal between Waterstones and Amazon has sparked debate across the nation on whether the days of paper books are numbered.

But Waterstones Barrow senior bookseller Hilary Gregson is adamant the agreement does not signal the demise of the humble paperback.

“We’re still very much about physical books, but we’re acknowledging that a lot of people have Kindles these days,” she said.

“We find that quite a few customers download books onto their Kindles but then come in and want to buy the physical book as well because they want something on their bookshelf.”

Amazon UK announced this year that for the first time sales of e-books had outstripped those of paperbacks and hardbacks combined.

As well as the ubiquitous Kindle, the marketplace has been flooded in recent years with Nooks, Kobos, Readers, iPads and numerous other devices capable of holding thousands of books at any one time.

Barrow woman Kim Smith was one of many respondents on the Evening Mail’s Facebook page who espoused the virtues of the tried-and-true traditional book.

“I have tried reading a book on a Kindle and on my iPad, but you can’t beat the smell and feel of a book – that’s priceless,” she said.

But Barrow man Jacob Goddard was equally effusive about the advantages of e-readers and e-books.

“I refused to read electronic books for ages before finally trying it and haven’t looked back,” he said.

However many locals, such as Hannah Bentham, take the view that there is room for both in modern day life.

“I love both,” she said. “There are series of books that I have collected over the years so I continue to buy them so I have a full collection on my shelf.

“I wasn’t sure about having a Kindle at first but I have some days where I struggle to read a proper book as the words seem to move around on me.

“But I can read my Kindle as I can change the size and type of font and can read easily.”

First published at 13:22, Sunday, 28 October 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk