“Books and Other Fetish Objects,” by James Gleick, discusses the downside of document digitization. Despite the fact digitization makes historical text readily available to thousands of people around the world, when it comes to the subject of digitizing, “some see enrichment, others see impoverishment,” Gleick explains (2).
Many historians argue that document digitization takes away from the excitement one feels when coming into close reach with an original historical manuscript. According to Tristram Hunt, “‘when everything is downloadable, the history of mystery can be lost’” (2). He concludes this statement by announcing he is not a fan of digitizing and then calls the act of reading physical books and text as sentimental.
Although it is difficult to develop sentimentality through a computer screen, I, for one, am an advocate for the digitization of original documents. Making digital copies of original historical documents provides the world with access to rare materials. As a result of this, people are provided with a slice of history. For instance, people are able to experience the thinking of process of Sir Isaac Newton as he conducts his experiments through his personal journals and data books. Personal journals like Newton’s are the historical rarities people are able to encounter, worldwide, due to the digitalization of written material. Of course one is not able to receive the “contact high” when reading original texts versus reading digitized text (1); nevertheless, the overall knowledge and information absorbed from the digitized documents can benefit mental capacities in which can increase the knowledge of many.
I agree completely that the experience of reading a physical book is "sentimental." There is certainly something emotional about it-- not flamboyantly emotional, but a deep, gentle feeling that settles itself immovably in our chests. I recently wrote an article about used bookstores in Cobb County, and one of the bookshop owners I interviewed talked about the difference between e-readers and books. She said: "There's something special about reading... e-readers are just not the same." That is so true so true! Reading is so much more than a simple pastime!
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