From the desk of: Cathy Coloff
I’ve always enjoyed reading. To be transported to another world, another life or even just another time through the words of a book...so many adventures without ever leaving home! These days, I tend to read more non-fiction; but periodically, I pick up a book recommended by a friend or that catches my eye in the bookstore or online to be whisked away on a new adventure.
Thankfully, my son Alex likes to read as well; but I wonder if that will continue through his school years. So far, he’s been reading traditional hard copy books, but I suspect that his textbooks will be digital in the upcoming school years. I’ve read studies that the brain absorbs information better if your tactile senses are involved (e.g., turning the pages, highlighting, taking notes in the margin). As a result, I wonder about the impact of eBooks on the future generation. Will they somehow adjust? Perhaps learn and/or retain less information? I know that some of the eBook apps allow you to highlight, insert notes, etc.; so perhaps that will help compensate for the loss of the physical book. Only time will tell. I know that I’ve come to love taking handwritten notes on my iPad in OneNote...and it does help with my retention.
A few years ago, I stumbled upon the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City. I was amazed at the beautiful library and all the books! I felt like Belle in Beauty and the Beast just standing there in awe of it all. I always wanted a library room like it with shelves of books so high you needed a ladder to reach them. Now, as I’m growing older, I’ve been passing along all my books in an effort to simplify; but there are some books that I just can’t let go of. So, while I may not have a room dedicated to books, I still have my personal collection to treasure.
First published in our August 2017 IT Radix Resource newsletter
