Author: Adam Mills

Technology introduces new ways for us to do things in just about all possible ways. With the new advancements of today, there’s no need to even write a grocery list or try to remember things anymore as our smartphones, smartwatches and home automation devices take care of it all. While this example only applies to a tiny part of how things have changed, you can see differences with everything we do, whether it’s finding your way to an address or looking for a new movie to watch at home, the fact is, it’s become a lot easier.

Some would agree that convivence isn’t always the best thing as the older, classical variation somehow remains better. Those who are used to reading books might find the newer electronic readers strange and that it takes away from the experience while others simply can’t get enough of just how easy it is to gain access to the latest books and discover titles they would’ve never considered at a bookstore.

There’s no doubt about it, online books on your tablet, smartphone or every special reading devices such as Kindle have their advantages, but is it really better than picking up a book and feeling the physical pages as you make your way through the story or details?

Finding Books

This is one section where electronic reading devices have an upper hand as they are linked to a massive online store where everything from the most in-demand books through to the latest free books are available. All you need to do is choose the book you want, pay the lower price and get reading straight away.

Of course, if you want the physical book, it has also become a lot easier to find the titles you want as many online stores give you the opportunity to order books and have it delivered straight to your door, but for some, visiting the bookstore and looking around is simply the cherry on top, which surprisingly remains a popular choice for millions.

Word Meanings and Keeping your Place

Electronic reading devices have made things much easier when it comes to reading as they include a direct link to online dictionaries. They allow readers to simply select a word and instantly see the meaning of it. These devices also allow you to keep track of where you left off as readers can simply choose a page or a specific place on a page where they can carry on from the next time they read.

Regular books don’t offer either of these features as you need to check up on words either in a dictionary or on a mobile device or PC by using Google. Those who read a lot might also be familiar with the frustrating occurrence when you piece of paper or place-keeper seems to have gone missing, meaning you need to go find the page and spot where the tale continues.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to preference as many readers don’t mind the minor additional steps required to read a physical book. Some even combine the options by reading on electronic devices while away from home but returning back to the physical book for the best experience when they can.

In today’s financially driven world, accounting has become a huge requirement, not only for businesses but for individuals as well. There are so many forms of accounting to consider, including personal tax, business bookkeeping and much more. In the past, accounting jobs were considered for this position for those people who lacked personality as not much was required from them other than to keep the numbers up to date. However, things have changed drastically as accountants now need to do a lot more, which involves strong reading and writing skills.

One of the primary causes for job terminations in accounting is poor reading and writing abilities. The world of accounting has become a lot more involved than just numbers, especially when it comes to reading complicated reports or creating them.

Therefore, it’s now more important than ever that those within the bookkeeping and accounting fields need to ensure their reading, writing and spelling skills are up to standard, especially for those involved with the business world. Luckily, online books make it very easy for these professionals to have easy access to a broad range of content, which doesn’t have to involve books that don’t interest you.

Getting into Books

For accountants who aren’t currently reading, it might just give you the edge required to help you progress even further in your career. There are many different books to choose from, each offering a great start to your reading future.

Most accountants prefer to start with what they know, which is financial books. Luckily, there’s a large selection to choose from, not only offering books about business but also about modern financial information, keeping you up to date while also improving the overall reading and writing quality, especially for those whose first language isn’t English.

On the other hand, reading books with stories, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction is the best way to provide an enhancement with reading and writing. Not only do the stories encourage reading, but since it flows better than most financial books, it also helps to improve the reading ability. With storybooks, studies have shown that reading and writing improves a lot faster and readers tend to get into more books from the same writer or in the same category.

Improves Communication Skills

Reading also enhances the communication skills for accountants, which is yet another major requirement in today’s accounting world. It’s no longer just one accountant who keeps track of the numbers, but rather a team who worlds with the rest of the company to ensure the best possible budgets, marketing costs and much more.

Reading also improves the basic skills when it comes to communicating, not only int eh world place but with everything else as well. There are even books about communication skills that are sure to benefit everyone, especially those who world in the USA and use English as a second or even third language.

Accountants offer huge benefit to any company and remain among the most desired positions for companies, especially those who are ahead of the rest when it comes to communicating, whether it’s verbal or non-verbal.

Although most historians of books primarily focus on the last four decades, we believe the format of a book is just as important. Most focus their attention on the Western world, but there’s no denying that the East has also managed to contribute several crucial techniques that is used by contemporary artist to this day.

The books of contemporary artists might not even be around today if it wasn’t for centuries of experimentation with materials, form, and technique. Once people started drawing and writing, they needed a surface that was more convenient than a wall in a cave. The book as we know it today took several centuries to develop and the combined knowledge of multiple cultures to exist.

Eastern Culture

Books in the East have been used for a long time, 3,000 years ago to be exact. Palm leaves, wood, and bamboo of equal width and length were fastened together by a string or cord that ran through a hole in every section. Known as blind books, they basically resemble the venetian blinds that most use in their homes. Cultures in the East also utilised a fan structure to store and record information in a certain order.

Invention of Paper

The Chinese invented paper in 105 AD. This popular material was both strong and flexible. This created a new form of books known as the fold book or concertina. One sheet, or multiple glued together, was basically folded onto itself. People could read it by simply flipping every fold or by opening the entire length to see. It also had hardcovers on the sides for protection. The Chinese culture could also print several images and experimented heavily with movable type long before the Western world.

Clay tablets were made in the West all the way back in 4000 BC. The Egyptians then created writing surfaces by using papyrus plants as they were far more light when compared to clay, but unfortunately too brittle to fold. They were therefore rolled into scrolls and stored.

Both the Romans and Greeks started using papyrus and did most of their writing on thin pieces of wood which were covered by wax or smooth coat. The surfaces were reusable by smoothing or heating the wax. By drilling holes on one side, the Romans were able to link them together with leather or cord. This is the origin of the Western codex which is the form of most of the books we use today.

Combining West and East

Contemporary books basically combine both the Western and Eastern traditions. Several basic forms of the book is usually combined for artists’ books in the same way they combine multiple media. The biggest struggle in the history of the book was to locate the materials and the best format to successfully create a method that was both easy and cheap to produce. While books defy the codification of the format of a book, the experimentation can now inspire artists to find new ways to use a book.

Today, it seems as everyone is writing more. Whether it be for personal enjoyment or for a profession – writing is the new craze. Although, when you begin to envision the next writer, an array of options appears: the most common being someone who is comfortably dressed, in a semi-secluded cabin with a perfect view of the lake, and being notably hunched over a desk while they keep erasing their last sentence because it “just doesn’t fit”

While that stereotype is true in some cases, witting can be so much more. While creating thoughts to put on a page, it makes you a writer, even if it isn’t as eloquent as the works of classic writers. Writing can have such an impact on your daily life – mostly mental benefits Which in today’s time is needed and extremely helpful. It serves as a source of your emotions, no matter how negative and positive, and most of all, if you decide to publish it on a site or an eBook – it can help you connect to whoever reads it.

Listed below are a few of the great benefits that writing can bring to you once you make it a daily habit.

Happiness

It has been researched a multitude of times. Writing has a correlation with happiness. While most of the research has been based on expressive writing – or simply wring when you are in a good or bad emotional state – could create a therapeutic feeling. This is due to the fact that you are getting your emotions out and creating something that you could be proud of. Expressive writing has been linked to having lower stress levels while creating a better mood when it is done on a regular basis (daily or weekly).

Adam Grant, a New York Times bestselling author and psychologist, commented on the research done by Laura King on the effects of expressive writing. Grant states that the research clearly displays that when writing a text about achieving goals and dreams can make the person writing them happier and more motivated to chase their dreams. Even when people are doing a stressful job, such as creating a fundraiser or being a mental health specialist – creating a journal and occasionally writing in it could improve their mood by 29%.

Communication

If you are lazy with expressing yourself, it’s more difficult to do so. It also creates a barrier when trying to communicate with others on a personal level. What makes it more frustrating is wanting to express yourself but having each though come out mixed up, like gibberish when said out loud. Though as you may have expected, writing on a daily basis can offer a reprieve of sorts.

Both emotionally and when regarding an intellectual conversation, writing has been shown to help all sorts of people to communicate more efficiently. This is especially helpful when issues begin to show when trying to speak face to face. In short, writing can help you disregard that who idea of it sounded better in my head as it forces you to write out your ideas clearly, so they can be understood by most.

Learning

When many professors and teachers alike state that writing makes something stick easier – they aren’t lying. It helps even more when the work is recreated I your own words to help the concepts click even easier.

Although, when the idea is the creation of an eBook, certain disciplines must be learned. Such as finding inspiration in the smallest things, becoming repetitive, along with having a newfound focus to help you finish the book as strongly as it started. Though writing regularly can help you pick up information and inspiration received from books, podcasts, and television shows and recreate that idea in your own words – while putting a twist on it.

Other than helping you focus on new ideas – writing regularly can also help with deep thinking. This is caused by writing taking energy to thoroughly understand something – which can be applied in day to day life.

Conclusion

While you may have a negative view on writing due to having to write essays and other assignments for school or work – doing it regularly and writing about what interests you is a great way to spark that passion. No matter the goal – to express yourself, create a book or eBook, or even just get some ideas out of your head – writing serves as a universally positive pastime that we can all benefit from.

Unlike centuries ago where you had to be silence during your visit to the nearest library, which was a building filled with books. Everyone with a mobile device or desktop now have access to an endless variety of information.

Digital libraries provide free access to historians, scholars, researchers and the public. The web archive contains over 20 years of web history, and currently, more than 450 libraries are available.

With the continued growth of published works, digital versions kept in online archive libraries include more than 279 billion web pages, 160 live concert recordings, 4 million audio recording, over a million television news programs, an estimated 3 million videos, and internet users have access to millions of images and thousands of software programs.

Anyone Can Add to an Online Library

While most still image rows of books when they hear the word library, online libraries such as Google offers more information than any physical library could. Google Books is a digital library that launched over 13 years ago in October 2004. Google scan books provided by authors or publishers and have also partnered with multiple magazine publishers. This initiative acknowledged for its potential to provide all internet users with unprecedented access to the largest volume of knowledge.

By 2015, more than 25 million books titles were already scanned by the online library, although the scanning process was severely slowed down by academic libraries in America. Google’s goal was to scan 130 million titles by 2010, although due to criticism from the American Association of Publishers it announced its opt-out policy in mid-2005. According to the policy copyright owners needed to provide a list of titles they did not want to be scanned.

Exceptional Functionality of an Online Library

Each book available in the online library has an associated page called “about this book”, displayed in analytical information form. Potential readers can find insights into the books or snippet views. There are mainly four different access levels used by Google books, which include full view, no preview, a snippet view and a preview.

Full view offers online readers the option to download the book for free. Previews, with permission granted by the publishers, offer a view viewable pages, these restrict the downloading of the book or copying its content. Snippets are two or more lines of the text displayed in preview mode, and snippet view is available in cases where the book author is unknown.

With mobile devices and Kindles, everything is at our fingertip. Its great although some wonder if it takes away the sense of adventure in finding the right book.

Even though e-books and digital libraries are becoming more commonplace – many people still do not know that there are hundreds of digital libraries that you can access online for a multitude of different topics. While it may be assumed that digital libraries only carry the basic and most popular books, the opposite is true. Many digital libraries carry books that can be used for academics, database finding, videos, and even audio recordings. While browsing online on a digital library, anything can be found.

e-Books are Available for Free At Libraries

For starters, one of the most extensive, and free, online libraries is the Internet Archive. It is home to over three million versions of texts and a million video and audio recordings. This digital library of the prime example of showing people all that digital libraries have to offer. The Internet Archive gives its users access to thousands of academic related texts, novels and graphic novels to be read for personal enjoyment, audio-books or audio recordings of interviews and famous events, and videos as well. Plus, users can access information all the way back from 1996 and earlier by using the Way Back Machine offered on the homepage.

Or, if you are more of a history buff, you could always visit the U.S Library of Congress to see all the digitalised archives. It features thousands of photography, articles, prints, newspapers, recordings, exhibits and collection from the vast history of the United States. Although, this information can be overwhelming for a single person who is only trying to find a single topic or a specific item. Which is why like other digital libraries, the Library of Congress featured an “ask a librarian” option which will link a person to a librarian and they will show them the correct information and how to access it properly.

Digital Libraries for University Students

However, if you’re a college student just looking for a legitimate source, the Stanford University’s High Wire online library is the perfect source to find thousands of academic texts along with academic journals from some of the top professionals in a certain field. Which gives students, professors, or even just researchers a haven to find accurate and secure information.

Sometimes digital libraries are either free or come with a price tag in the form of a yearly or monthly subscription. This is something that people who are considering looking for one for their own personal use should keep in mind. Students are at an advantage as most schools already use a digital library that the student does not have to pay for – while in other cases people must pay a fee. However, most digital library fees are not overly expensive, and in some cases offer discounts. Though, many digital libraries, such as the U.S Library of Congress, or ones that offer free public information, happen to be free of charge.

Overall, choosing a digital liberty is the same as choosing a shoe. You must browse through a few until you find one that fits you and your needs perfectly. Just keep in mind that digital libraries are unique and offer an array of services other than providing books to read.