Survey: eBooks and Literary Journals

[Brandon M]

Hi everyone. I'm a graduate student at Florida State, and I'm collecting data for an article I'm writing for my Editing & Publishing class. If you would take a few minutes to fill out the brief survey below, I would greatly appreciate it. As part of my assignment, I will post my article and findings here on Book Blogs once it's done.

***SURVEY***

1) Do you own an eBook Reader/Kindle/iPad?

2a) In general, do you prefer reading print books or eBooks?

2b) If you prefer print, what do you find inconvenient about eBooks/eReaders?

3) Do you or have you read literary journals on your eBook Reader?

4a) How much would you pay for a PRINT literary journal that interested you (Literary journals generally cost between $10 to $20)?

4b) How much would you pay for an E-BOOK version of that same journal?

4c) If both print and eBook were the same price, which would you buy?

5) If you generally prefer PRINT versions, what changes would the eBook versions need to undergo in order to attract you (i.e. lower price, eBook-only enhancements, bonus materials, etc.)?

 

***END SURVEY***

 

In case you're wondering how this came up:

A few weeks ago I attended a conference in Binghamton, NY, and one of the panel sessions included a discussion with an editor from the literary journal Stone Canoe. The representative had several questions for the audience concerning e-books. He asked how much readers would be willing to pay for an e-book version of the journal and how many audience members owned e-book readers. Audience members responded that they wouldn't pay the same price as the print version. Also, only two audience members (in a room of fifteen) claimed to own an e-book reader. The audience argued that e-readers take away from the magic of the printed page and that iPads put strain on a reader’s eyes.

For my article I want to explore the marketability of literary e-journals and report on whether they’re best for journals like Stone Canoe at this time.

Thank you for your time,

- Brandon

[Mario Gomez]

1) Do you own an eBook Reader/Kindle/iPad? No

2a) In general, do you prefer reading print books or eBooks? Print

2b) If you prefer print, what do you find inconvenient about eBooks/eReaders? I can't write on the pages my thoughts or questions

3) Do you or have you read literary journals on your eBook Reader? No

4a) How much would you pay for a PRINT literary journal that interested you (Literary journals generally cost between $10 to $20)? 20+

4b) How much would you pay for an E-BOOK version of that same journal? 0

4c) If both print and eBook were the same price, which would you buy? Print

5) If you generally prefer PRINT versions, what changes would the eBook versions need to undergo in order to attract you (i.e. lower price, eBook-only enhancements, bonus materials, etc.)? I would need to be able to write on the pages.

 

[Trully Sunee]

1) Do you own an eBook Reader/Kindle/iPad? Yes

2a) In general, do you prefer reading print books or eBooks? eBooks

2b) If you prefer print, what do you find inconvenient about eBooks/eReaders? n/a

3) Do you or have you read literary journals on your eBook Reader? none

4a) How much would you pay for a PRINT literary journal that interested you (Literary journals generally cost between $10 to $20)? $10

4b) How much would you pay for an E-BOOK version of that same journal? $3

4c) If both print and eBook were the same price, which would you buy? No eBooks are not including the costs of printing and binding the work.  I would always pay less for an eBook unless I just had to have that book.

5) If you generally prefer PRINT versions, what changes would the eBook versions need to undergo in order to attract you (i.e. lower price, eBook-only enhancements, bonus materials, etc.)? eBook already is my preference

[Sandra "Jeanz" Richardson]

1) Do you own an eBook Reader/Kindle/iPad?

I own a kindle, as does my mum and my daughter. My daughter and I also have 4 book cases that are filled with books!

2a) In general, do you prefer reading print books or eBooks?

I actually read both e-books and print. I would say the good thing about e-books is storage, you don't need lots of room to store them as such. Having said that I still love the tactile experience of curling up in bed with a great book to read.

2b) If you prefer print, what do you find inconvenient about eBooks/eReaders?

I think an inconvenience of an e-reader is finding the books once you have put them on your kindle....I mean finding a particular book and remembering what/where you filed it. You also do not get the full experience of viewing the book cover on an e-reader and some books are not viewable on an e-reader as they have illustrations so you sort of miss out on those books.

3) Do you or have you read literary journals on your eBook Reader?

No, I read fiction and memoirs etc not entirely sure about what you mean by literary journals.

4a) How much would you pay for a PRINT literary journal that interested you (Literary journals generally cost between $10 to $20)?

I would pay up to the $20 (though I am from the UK) so a print book would be up to the $20

4b) How much would you pay for an E-BOOK version of that same journal?

I would want an e-book to be much cheaper so maybe only up to $5 (again please remember I am from the UK)

4c) If both print and eBook were the same price, which would you buy?

Most likely to buy the print book as you feel you have more to show for your money, it is more visible than spending the same amount of money on an e-book.

5) If you generally prefer PRINT versions, what changes would the eBook versions need to undergo in order to attract you (i.e. lower price, eBook-only enhancements, bonus materials, etc.)?

Lower prices, e-book only bonus material would be great too. Would also like a better way of arranging the e-books on the kindle perhaps.

[Marie-Anne Mancio]

1) Do you own an eBook Reader/Kindle/iPad?

Kindle

2a) In general, do you prefer reading print books or eBooks?

I still love print but I read more since I got a Kindle

 

2b) If you prefer print, what do you find inconvenient about eBooks/eReaders?

Not being able to scribble on the pages! There is a highlight facility but it's not the same

 

3) Do you or have you read literary journals on your eBook Reader?

Not yet

 

4a) How much would you pay for a PRINT literary journal that interested you (Literary journals generally cost between $10 to $20)?

$10

 

4b) How much would you pay for an E-BOOK version of that same journal?

$5

 

4c) If both print and eBook were the same price, which would you buy?

Now it would be eBook - easier to store

 

5) If you generally prefer PRINT versions, what changes would the eBook versions need to undergo in order to attract you (i.e. lower price, eBook-only enhancements, bonus materials, etc.)?

Nothing to add to Kindle