Even in a strictly physical sense, paper lasts longer than any newer media, from photo film to records to CDs to USBs. Books can last 500 years without trying if they're kept dry.
More importantly, books degrade in an analog way. Torn edges or missing pages don't destroy the whole text. All newer media degrade digitally. One crack and it's done.
Even in a strictly physical sense, paper lasts longer than any newer media, from photo film to records to CDs to USBs. Books can last 500 years without trying if they're kept dry.
More importantly, books degrade in an analog way. Torn edges or missing pages don't destroy the whole text. All newer media degrade digitally. One crack and it's done.
All excellent observations. Any time I find a used bookstore I am in there! Sadly fewer and fewer to find. There's a great one in Ojai that I love to visit.
Even in a strictly physical sense, paper lasts longer than any newer media, from photo film to records to CDs to USBs. Books can last 500 years without trying if they're kept dry.
More importantly, books degrade in an analog way. Torn edges or missing pages don't destroy the whole text. All newer media degrade digitally. One crack and it's done.
All excellent observations. Any time I find a used bookstore I am in there! Sadly fewer and fewer to find. There's a great one in Ojai that I love to visit.