Though many would argue they were never really in decline, printed books are experiencing a revitalisation, despite doomsayers warnings that e-books would bury them in the ground.

Surprisingly it is young audiences which are leading the print reprise, ditching their tablets in favour of a good old-fashioned paperback. 

According to research from the Association of American Publishers, e-book sales dropped 22.7 per cent in April 2016 compared to April 2015, with children and young adult categories experiencing the biggest declines.  

E-book sales also declined in Britain for the first time in seven years. In comparison, paperback book sales in the US surged 21.5 per cent and hardback books grew 2.6 per cent. 

No figures are available in Australia, but the trend here is certain to be similar to the US and UK.

General manager of Brisbane’s InHouse Print & Design, 19-year-old Nevada Matthews is typical of people his age in his preference for the printed tome.

“Printed books are not going to phase out, I know plenty of other 19-year-olds who read books, and we do not enjoy reading e-books at all,” he says.

“Reading a three page document online is fine, but reading a full length book online, I would never do that, and a lot of people my age feel the same.”

InHouse specialises in printing perfect bound books for self-publishing clients, and although they also provide e-book services, it is often an accompaniment to the printed version. 

“When we have self-publishing clients we provide them with a physical book and an e-book. But the e-book is more of a marketing tool, people do not enjoy them as much,” Matthews explains.

“I often hear clients talk about the feeling of the paper, the act of putting the physical book on a book shelf, some people even go as far as to comment on the smell of a book, and they take all those things very seriously.”

Sarah Leo, general manager of brand strategy and people at South Australia’s Openbook Howden says printed books are more profitable than their digital counterparts.

“Because the printed book is tangible, it is perceived to have a higher value than the e-book version which is often discounted by e-book retailers,” Leo says.

“People still find it easier to read a physical book than look at a screen, which most people do all day at work anyway. A lot of clients sell their books during speaking events where it is far easier to sell a printed book on the spot than an electronic copy.”

Leo reports Openbook Howden is experiencing an increase in demand for clients wanting to self-publish, and who are doing so successfully.

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