more-in After a long tiring day at work, nothing makes K. Anuradha, who works in a private organisation, relax than turning the pages of a book for about 45 minutes. No matter what, she spends a while reading books before hitting the bed every night. Even in this digital age where e-books play a key role, ardent readers say that the experience of getting engrossed in the world of paper books filled with inky words is something they could not afford to skip as this traditional regimen forms an integral part of their relaxation techniques to unwind and de-stress. In connection with the National Library Week celebrations, librarians and those who run bookstores say that the demand for printed books have increased over the years despite the growing popularity of e-books. “At a time where a majority of people end up spending most part of their day operating devices, books provide the much-needed respite to those who want digital-detox. Even though e-books are gradually making their presence felt in the market, printed books continue to be the preferred format of reading among diverse age groups,” says Sunil Nevatia, director of Pages bookstore. Rise in number From a subscription of 20,000-odd a few years ago to the present count that crosses 36,700, Visakhapatnam Public Library has seen a considerable rise in the number of subscribers over the past five years. “Youngsters form a major part of the membership. Most of them prefer books to reading the digital version. However, in order to cater to online readers, we are soon going to set up a digital centre on the premises,” says D.S. Varma, secretary of Visakhapatnam Public Library Society. Those who like to browse through a multitude of books on the go find the digital format more convenient. “I find Kindle comfortable to access anytime as I don’t have to worry about packing books wherever I head. Apart from Kindle, I even use audio books while cycling and gymming,” says Dheeraj Sayala, a software engineer and voracious reader. V.J. Gupta of Gupta Brothers Books says that the e-book culture in Visakhapatnam is yet to take shape. “Apparently, there is a dip of 25% in the sale of books in retail stores because of online sale and the huge discount offered by e-commerce market, but certainly not because of e-reading as this trend is yet to pick up in the city,” he observes.

Stay updated with all the Latest Visakhapatnam headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.