While the economy is diving headfirst into recession, technology has continued to advance and thrive.
Not only has it taken over social networking, but also the business of selling and buying back books.

With competition from larger rivals, such as Barnes and Noble and Amazon, independent book stores don’t stand a chance.

The new current trends in the literacy world are the electronic books, or e-books: the Kindle from Amazon and the Nook from Barnes and Noble.

These e-book tablets allow people of all-ages access to millions of books. E-books, just like a word document, can be accessed from any PC connected to the internet.

However, the popularity of e-books has by no means replaced traditional texts.

Because of stores like Barnes and Nobles, who sell print copies as well as electronic copies, consumers still have a choice.

But what about their competitors? With Barnes and Nobles’ diversity, competition has been fighting to keep their heads above the water.

Recently, Border’s Group, the second largest U.S. bookstore chain, closed its doors to the public for good.

Borders had roughly 400 stores closed, and nearly 11,000 jobs lost, according to a Border’s Group news release.

This recent craze with e-books has not only affected the big-box stores, but also independent retail bookstores.

Booksellers are looking for an edge as the dual challenges of a bad economy and a changing industry make owning a bookstore a treacherous affair.

Because of websites like Amazon, independent have also started selling print copies on the web, in hopes of keeping their sales up.

The real problem is that there aren’t enough readers to go around. Many people are losing sight of what’s important and getting caught up with social networking trends.

It’s not a question of what consumers are reading, but when they are reading. With the economy’s recent recession, people are also focusing more on work than leisure, and don’t have time to pick up a good book.

However, I remember a point in time when people would purchase a good novel, play some classical music, and curl up on the couch with a glass of wine.

Boy, how times have changed.

With this fast-pace life, people are forgetting the little things, such as tucking their children in bed with a good book, or visiting your folks at a nursing home and reading them a chapter from their favorite novel.

These little things seem like faraway memories of my childhood.

As an avid reader, I like to feel the pages as I turn them, and I appreciate the illustration that authors put into every publication.

Sometimes, you have to opt for quality, instead of quantity. E-books may be cheaper, but nothing beats the feeling of picking up a brand new book.

While e-books are all the craze at the moment, traditional textbooks will continue to cling on until they eventually make a comeback.