Frankie Meyer: E-readers’ effect on genealogy unknown

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August 22, 2010

By Frankie Meyer Globe Columnist The Joplin Globe Sun Aug 22, 2010, 07:10 AM CDT

JOPLIN, Mo. — The e-readers that I mentioned in this column a few months ago are changing at a rapid pace.

Sales of all e-readers are soaring. Amazon estimates that by year’s end it will have sold over 6 million e-readers. Barnes & Noble announced an increase in its sales of Nook e-readers, and Sony has announced the same for its Reader.

The sale of multimedia tablets has increased, too. As competition increases, companies are lowering their prices. Amazon recently announced a dramatic change. The price of its new Kindle is $189. The older Kindles were $399.

The third generation Kindle is faster, lighter, has a sharper display, has Wi-Fi reception and twice the storage. The e-readers can last up to a month without a charge.

Buyers have access to 1.8 million pre-1923 books (out of copyright) that can be downloaded free of charge. In addition, Amazon has 600,000 newer books that can be downloaded for a charge.

In its attempt to make its e-readers lighter, Amazon has made them smaller while keeping the 6-inch screen.

As the practicality and popularity of e-readers increase, book companies are noticing a dramatic change in how people read. Amazon recently announced that its sale of e-books has soared past its sale of hardcover books. Some leaders of the industry estimate that the sale of e-books could surpass the sale of paperback books within the year.

Schools are taking notice. Some local schools have already purchased a few e-readers to test their practicality in the classroom.

Imagine the future! Students may not carry heavy books. Instead, each might carry a light weight e-reader that has all of the assignments and books in its memory.

A study was recently released about the differences between students starting college this fall and those of the past. Most of the new students have never used phones that have cords, they do not wear watches, they do not know how to write in cursive and they are unfamiliar with handwritten letters.

Will students of the future also cast aside the old-style books and only use e-books? How will libraries of the future be different? How will genealogy research change?

If you haven’t signed up for the bus trip to the Midwest Genealogy Library at Independence, the Joplin Genealogy Society still has a few seats open. The day trip will be on Monday, Oct. 4. The cost of $35 needs to be paid by Sept. 25.

For more information, drop by the society’s research center at 306 S. Wall or call the society at 417-624-3215.

Don’t forget to save your old newspapers and drop them by the society. The group sells the newspapers for recycling and uses the money to help finance the research center.

Suggestions or queries? Send to Frankie Meyer, P.O. Box 731, Joplin, Mo. 64801, or contact: frankiemeyer@yahoo.com.

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Frankie Meyer: E-readers’ effect on genealogy unknown

Eliminating the state income tax and increasing sales tax was debated during a press day on Thursday at the Missouri Capitol. Do you favor that proposal?

Eliminating the state income tax and increasing sales tax was debated during a press day on Thursday at the Missouri Capitol. Do you favor that proposal?

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