P vs. E
Posted by: Rebecca Vnuk
The P (print) vs. E (electronic) debate started with reference publishing, and for the past decade or so anyone involved in publishing, writing about, and using reference sources has had to navigate a whole new territory. It’s been exciting to get immersed in this alternate universe, but at the same time I confess I’ve envied my colleagues here at Booklist who were still secure in the world of the physical book. Thanks in part to the Kindle, however, the P vs. E. debate has expanded beyond the 
reference world. And today, according to an article in The New York Times, Barnes and Noble is introducing its own e-reader, called the Nook.
Last week The New York Times’ Room for Debate featured several pundits weighing in on the topic “Does the Brain Like E-Books?“ The questions they explore: is there a difference in the way the brain takes in information when it’s presented in traditional print form and electronically? And does the reading experience change depending on the medium?
