Back in August, Andrea posted about e-Readers and the effects of mobile technology in the publishing/print arena. To continue the conversation, I’d like to share a story I came across this morning on NPR.

End Of Days For Bookstores? Not If They Can Help It.

I’ve always been one to vouch for bound books instead of electronic copies. There’s something about flipping the pages, bending the spine the perfect way and the smell of the ink on the paper that makes holding a book so worthwhile. Old-fashioned? Maybe. Perfect? Yes.

And that’s why I haven’t given in to the whole e-Reader fad.

Until now.

I will soon be the proud owner of the iPad 2 when it comes out in the spring. I can’t wait to get my little hands on this new tech toy and gift from my family.

Why? A number of reasons.

I’m a Mac lover. Between my iPhone, iPod and Macbook computer, I am clearly an Apple fan. It doesn’t take much for me to love something Mac.

It’s more than just an e-Reader. I can check my e-mail, blog, read other blogs, surf the Web, video chat, play games and watch movies.

I now have the option to read electronically on the go. Just because I will own an iPad doesn’t automatically mean that bound books and I are no longer friends. I fully intend on maintaining the large stack of paperbacks on my bedside table. But now, the beauty is that I don’t have to lug these books when I’m out and about or traveling.

It’s social and smart. Besides being an e-Reader, the iPad is also a tool that allows you to stay connected, engaged and informed. From Twitter and Foursquare to The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, there is an app for just about everything you access on a regular basis.

It’s portable and small. In addition to its many uses, the super sleek design makes the iPad the perfect portable electronic. It’s lightweight and slim, and best of all, it fits inside my purse–always a plus for any 20-something gal on the go.

You see, I’m always going to go to the bookstore. I’ll always sit in the travel section perusing the guidebooks for Europe, Asia and beyond. I’ll search the shelves for great fiction finds, classic cookbooks or the perfect gift for a friend. And I’ll always blog in the bookstore cafe with a warm coffee in hand.

It’s about embracing these new technologies while remembering what made reading so special in the first place. The beloved bookstore isn’t going anywhere–it’s simply, changing.

As Lynn Neary writes, “All bookstore owners know that the digital future is now. It’s up to them to work it in a way that keeps their doors open and their shelves filled with actual books.”

Happy reading.

- LS