Seven reasons printed publications are here to stay

The Value of Using a Printed Book Over Digital

In the past few months during the pandemic, much to our relief, every release from the organization has been uploaded to the JW website and JW Library app. We've seen beautiful reports that show all the money saved, much of which has been used by the Disaster Relief Committees around the world. Even though we received direction to stop using the Kingdom Halls for meetings, you've never stopped preparing for every single meeting, and you've maintained your spiritual routine consisting, mainly, of reading.

Theocratic books aren't all that we consume. For entertainment, you've no doubt read a complete book or two in the past few months, especially if you are an avid book reader. However, if you started working or studying remotely, you have read more on your tablet or computer than ever before.

What other reasons do we have to consume e-books?

Here we list a few, but maybe you have some others in mind:

• Convenience. Most of the titles are easy to find by writing on the search tool and then downloading to our preferred platform.
• Space savings. Having an e-library saves a lot of space. And less cluttered bookshelves to clean!
• Cost savings. On average, a digital book could cost 10% less than a printed edition (School Library Journal, 2018). 
• Environmental considerations. Less consumption of paper means fewer trees cut.

So does that mean old-fashioned books are out? Is there any reason to keeping reading printed books?

Yes! Here are 7 benefits scientists have acknowledged after much research:

1. You absorb more information: In the case of e-readers, the inability to flip back to previous pages or control the text physically, either through making written notes or bending pages, limits one’s sensory experience and thus reduces long-term memory of the text.
2. Printed books help children become better readers: In a 2013 study, researchers found that children ages 3 to 5 whose parents read to them from an electronic book had lower reading comprehension than children whose parents used traditional books. This was because the kids spent more time focusing on the device itself than on the story. On the other hand, parents who used conventional books were more likely to engage in a back-and-forth discussion of the story and its relation to the child’s life that research has shown are key to a child’s linguistic development.
3. They're easier on the eyes: Electronic books can cause screen fatigue, which may lead to blurred vision, redness, dryness, and irritation. With printed books, you don’t have to worry about any of that.
4. You're less likely to get distracted: Digital readers tend to spend more time scanning for keywords than actually processing what they’re reading. And with a printed book, there’s no chance of getting distracted by links or getting sucked into social media or an advertisement.
5. They can help you sleep better: When many of us spend our days in front of screens, it can be hard to signal our bodies that it’s time to sleep. By reading a paper book about an hour before bed, your brain enters a new zone, distinct from that enacted by reading on an e-reader.
6. Having a library at home is linked to higher academic achievement: Researchers believe this is because having books at home encourages children to read for fun and talk to their parents about what they’ve learned, which only stands to benefit them in the classroom.
7. They amplify the joy of reading: the kinesthetic process in reading a print book will help you to feel less stressed.

We can’t deny we are going to use digital books for a long time, and now we read both digital and printed books. No matter how you do your personal study, don’t forget here at Ministry Ideaz, we have all the products you need to keep track of your reading and to protect those precious printed publications. Don’t miss our latest releases!

What about you? Which is your favorite way to read? Digital? Or printed?

Here are a couple comments that some of our customers have made:

Very practical! I like my study WT in hard copy and this makes it easier to use. Love that the colour matches my new Bible. 

 - from: Anna W.

I always do research for our mid week so the notebook I ordered will be nice and while I have downloaded the publication for our congregation book study I like my hard copy and the book cover will keep it nice.
- from an anonymous shopper

I may still be old school, but I really love paper and pen, even if it's to make tiny notes I love paper and pen, so I decided to get some letter Writing paper, its beautiful and amazing 👏 😊 - from: Lisa K.

What about you? Please leave your comment below: