Changes in Book Reading Habits!

Developing technology and digital platforms have begun to affect every aspect of our lives, as well as our book reading habits.

After many of our habits changed with digitalization, our book reading habits also began to change. The transfer of literature to the digital environment, the proliferation of e-books and the rich content offered on digital platforms have reshaped the traditional book reading experiences of readers.

E-books offer portable and economical physical and economic options compared to printed books wherever there is a mobile phone, tablet or computer. Thanks to the advantages offered by digital platforms, readers can access books anytime, anywhere. Especially eye-friendly screen technologies and customizable reading experiences increase the appeal of e-books. ''While digital books such as e-books and audiobooks built with digital technologies create an alternative reading format to the traditional book format, new book formats supported by augmented reality and virtual reality technologies continue to be developed'' (Demir, 2023) .

According to the information Demir provided from Statistica (2021) data ; While the e-book market revenue in Turkey is estimated to reach 5.22 million US dollars in 2023, the projected market volume is expected to be 4.12 million US dollars by 2027. On the other hand, the number of e-book readers is expected to reach 3.8 million users by 2027. When European e-book data is compared with Turkey, it is seen that e-book revenue, user rate and market revenue volume are quite low in Turkey.

Despite the proliferation of digital platforms, the tactile experience and sense of nostalgia offered by printed books still have an important place. As Sema Bulat Demir reported from Okuyay Platformu (2019) , ''According to the research conducted on reading culture, the rate of readers who prefer to read printed books for personal interest and curiosity in Turkey is 72%, and it has been stated that they mostly prefer to read printed books for work and school purposes.'' For traditional book lovers, no digital experience can replace the feeling of turning pages and the smell of paper. However, advantages such as fast access and portability offered by digitalization shape readers' preferences.

Thanks to satellite and internet technology, it is possible to easily access information in a library on the other side of the world. It is easier to convey existing information, thoughts and feelings to a wide audience. This situation also causes students to turn to electronic tools instead of printed products. Instead of “reading books”, concepts such as “screen reading” and “e-book reading” are used more in classes. With e-books, students’ reading skills, attitudes and habits are changing. (Güneş - Kırmızı, 2014)

According to information from Firdevs Güneş’s book Fast Reading and Meaning Construction published in 2009 ; E-book reading has been rapidly spreading among children and young people in recent years. In a study conducted by the Book Industry Study Group in the USA, it was seen that 47% of young readers read on a computer screen, 32% on Amazon Kindle (e-book), 21% on iPhone and iPod Touch, and 9% on mobile phone screens. A similar study was conducted in France, investigating how young people aged 15-24 spend their time. The study revealed that French young people spend 3.5 hours a day in front of the TV or computer, and only 10 minutes with paper books .