Question: Just recently, Encyclopedia Britannica announced it will no longer publish books, but go digital. Do you think art and craft books are headed in the same direction?
Answer: Radio was supposed to die when television was introduced and yet we still have plenty of radio stations broadcasting. Radio adapted, found niches, but like most publishing/broadcasting companies has to struggle to continue to grow and bring in profits. We have seen many crafting magazines disappear off the newsstands over the last few years again; I’d make a bet that advertising revenue just didn’t make the magazines profitable. All that said, I think that those who crave more knowledge about art and craft are very tactile people who probably enjoy holding a book while they read and learn. I think the publishers will be like the radio folks–adapt, find their niches, and continue to publish books. Those who live green, like taking books on the go, and enjoy not having to give up craft supply space will enjoy digitally available titles. My only fear with digital is that those who don’t want to invest (pay for books) will use the digital format to pirate said books.
Check out some digital books on FaveCrafts.com!
- Always wanted to try your hand at knitting? Then check out How To Knit: Beginner Knitting Help, which includes 7 free patterns.
- Glitter here, glitter there! Create 14 Sparkling Craft Projects with Krylon Glitter Blast.
- Jewelry for You has over 20 great beading projects that are spot on fashion trends.
Or maybe you’d like a traditional book?
What do you think? Please share your insight and opinions and leave a comment!
- Ask Maria:Candy Crafts = Bugs? - April 15, 2012
- Ask Maria:Bye-Bye Printed Books, Hello Digital? - April 1, 2012
- Ask MariaRuffled Scarf Crazy - March 14, 2012
When I moved 2 years ago, I could not take my collection of books with me which consisted of over 200 books including craft, cookbooks, and literary books. I kept only my favorite and donated the rest but had trouble doing so as the library did not want it, the school library did not want them, finally the Salvation Army took them but without protest. I did get myself a digital reader and enjoy it because you can read even in the sunlight and it is not as heavy as a book. However, like dvd’s and cd’s authors will get the short end of the stick if, in fact, people pirate their digital books. In a way it is like lending a book or borrowing a book from a library. It is unfortunate if everything goes digital because the younger generation will not know the feel, and smell of old books something I marvel at all the time. It also comes down to conserving space and paper. On the other hand, not everyone is computer literate (older generation) so it is unfair to take away from them…not only that, ereaders are very small some even hard to read!
I do not have an ereader. I have considered it, but I really like sitting & relaxing with a book, with pages in it & the smell of a book cannot replaced by an ereader. I can see where they are convenient but give me a good book any day.
I’m a little old fashioned that way.
I don’t even like reading a lot on my computer. i prefer to sit where I choose & read not in front of my computer & I don’ have a lap top.
Can you advise me on round nine of pineapple crochet in fave craft crochet? Doily, by DMC. Do I single crochet across triples? Thanks