It’s sad to see stores like Borders go. The book chain will close all of its six Hawaii locations by the end of September, after announcing last week that it was ceasing operations.
Part of Borders problem is that digital readers like iPads, Nooks, Kindles and other tablets are becoming more popular, replacing the need for traditional books. The pros of having such devices are that they’re convenient and compact, allowing you to have instant access to your digital library and updated newspapers and publications.
Yet, although our generation continues to delve into the world of technology, there’s still value in having something physical at hand. It’s hard to describe the value of feeling paper touch your fingertips and being able to skim through pages. It’s something I’ve grown used to
and won’t want to give up. I personally have a book case in my room and if you were to take one of the books off of my shelf and open it up, you’ll be able to find my hand written reminders or notes.
The Borders liquidation made me think about other struggling brick-and-mortar companies like Blockbuster, who have tried to keep up with the times by offering digital and online movie-viewing options, but are still financially unstable. Netflix has essentially taken over the industry with its on-demand Internet streaming video and inexpensive DVD-by-mail service.
From music to books, many things can be found online. And although I love the convenience, I hope younger generations can still be exposed to the old-school ways of doing things, like looking things up in an encyclopedia or roaming an actual library instead of being so quick to turn to internet resources like Google.
I stopped by Borders at Ward Centre to snag some books and say goodbye to the place where I spent so many of my college years.
How do you feel about technology taking over traditional ways of reading, watching movies and more?
Jermellynn 