Masland Library Blog

Looking for a book this summer? Student worker Ryan Eshelman provides us with a view into e-books.
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It seems like every time a new piece of technology is introduced, people are quick to jump on the bandwagon and proclaim it as “The next big thing”, often supposedly rendering whatever it replaced obsolete. This happened somewhat recently, with the introduction of electronic books, or “eBooks” for short.

eBooks were not regarded as much of a threat to physical print at launch, as they had to be read on a bulky home computer. However, in 2007, Amazon released the Kindle, a portable eBook reader. Able to store over a thousand books, this changed everything. Although not the first eReader, the Kindle was so wildly popular that it sold out within 5 hours of launch, and libraries everywhere started integrating technology to allow patrons to “check out” eBooks, which would then delete themselves after a set period. 6 years later, eReaders have become mainstream, with many people owning one, or a tablet with an eBook reader app.[For more information see our Libguide on Tablets.]

Yet this doesn’t necessarily mean that physical books are dying. There are many reasons to still head to Masland Library to check out a book. For one thing, it’s free. While there are a few classics that can be downloaded onto a reader for free, the majority of eBooks cost money. Another wonderful feature of the physical book is that it can’t run out of power. Some people just prefer the feel of turning the pages of a physical book in their hands, or even the satisfying “thud” of slamming a finished book closed. Whatever your preferences, the Masland Library has both physical and electronic resources available to you, to suit any need or inclination.

To see what the Masland Library has available you can check the Library Catalog for more information.  To download ebooks from the Masland Library you will need to download the ebrary app from either Google Play or the iTunes store.   

There has been a lot of debate in the media about ebooks, ereaders and tablets. It has become a badge of honor to be in a certain camp for either digital or print media, kind of on par with the Twilight obsessed fans of Team Jacob or Edward (insert eye rolling here). Personally I find myself in both media camps. I cannot say one media source is better than another, in fact I will probably be working with both for the remainder of my life. Will I buy an ereader? I believe I may, but I will be waiting for a reader that accomplishes all of my goals and wishlist of services. Will I give up my print library? For certain books I believe I may, but will I give up my classics? The books that I wish my future friends and children to read? Not at all.

{Geekiness warning} Growing up I watched whatever my dad had on and my most vivid memories are of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Jean Luc Picard is in my opinion the most awesome of all Star Trek captains, he has a amazing voice, he was kind to children and his crew, and he appreciated the Arts. In his quarters he played classical music and even had physical books lying around, but when we saw him reading he was always on his "tablet" reader. To me as a child that was the epitome of cool (that and when I discovered that Jordy was that guy on Reading Rainbow). When I hold a Kindle or Nook, I feel like I am on Star Trek reading awesome Classic books with style, much like Cpt. Picard.

So now you are probably wondering why I have brought up this meandering midst of memories? As a student at Philadelphia Biblical University you have been blessed with receiving an education that takes an interest in you and your worldview. We want our students to succeed, all the faculty and staff are here to invest ourselves in your future., That is a gift that shouldn't be taken lightly. Part of that investment is the Library and its databases and its physical offerings. Regardless of whether you prefer print or digital media we have resources for you. With over 70 databases and more than a 100,000 physical items on our shelves, we have and continue to develop our offerings to meet the needs of our students and their programs of study. So if you want to immerse yourself in the print resources you may do so, or if you are busy commuter who prefers working online you can conduct your research from your favorite wireless location. Whichever way suites you best than we are here to accommodate you. If you need pointers or have suggestions on how we can improve our services we would love to hear from you. You can contact us through "Ask a Librarian" or you can also make suggestions about items to acquire.

~Laura Saloiye