When I was younger, one of the places that my mom would take me would be a bookstore. Whether it was a Barnes and Noble, Borders, or a quaint local store in my county, bookstores with actual books was one of my favorite places to visit during my childhood. I loved to feel the crisp first page of a new book, where the texture of the cover impacted my opinion of the book itself, even though I was technically breaking the rule of not judging a book by its cover. The quality of the books and the different fonts used would make me feel like each book was personally written to me, like a letter to a friend from the author him/herself.

Even with the magic hat surrounds bookstores, these classic libraries are beginning to close down because of the huge increase in e-books over the past decade. This is a fact that saddens individuals all around the world, like my mother, who loves the experience of sitting down with a good book outside while drinking a hot cup of coffee. This task can be done with an e-book, but the experience is not the same as having a hardcover or paperback that has every single syllable printed for your reading pleasure.

As the next generation of bookworms, shouldn’t we try as hard as we can to get the original bookstores back? Everything in this world does not need to be about technology, and reading normal paper rather than an electronic device is better for eye health, and can help produce better and longer sleep. Also, the heavy use of electronics in today’s world is already a problem that we need to work on.

In today’s society, electronics are a major part of everything we do, including schoolwork and communication with friends and family. The idea of not having a laptop or a cell phone at one for one hour, one minute, or even one second of the day is unheard of, especially during adolescence. Although the need for technology is important to most individuals in the world, why take away the beauty of having actual books? Real books can be shared with others and can help form relationships between people by making connections through a love of books.

So, the next time you are on the Books App on your iPad trying to buy the new Harry Potter book (you know who you are), think about having the actual book in your possession to read. Think about the feeling of getting yourself lost in the tranquility of the nearest bookstore, and compare to the cold and impersonal feeling of an electronic device. Which one would you choose?