Dear Prof. Aly R Abdel-Moemin,

Thanks for sharing me your interesting question. I'm a retired researcher and have a considerable number of books in the printed version for my reference and enjoyment. The total of those books might be called a library for myself. Some books (a lot more than 100; the record on my computer is not complete) are written in Japanese, and others (over 600) are in English. An extension of my library exists at the library of the university I worked; namely, I donated there some of the books (more than fifty, in English) I finished reading. [I sold many books (mostly written in Japanese) to old-book stores because of the space limitation of my house.]

As for electronic publications, most of such I have are PDF files of articles of my interest. I don't read books in the electronic version.

Best regards,

Tatsuo

Dear colleagues,

Homes in my country have roofs so I used 45 meter of the roof to make a library and academic saloon for my guests. In this library there are many important hard books for my career in food science and more than 50 books in communication and media as my second career. In addition to 100 frames for Egyptian pioneers in Home Economics and many old books back to 1940.  I have another library contain electronic versions of books and scanned old documents that you  say most of my reading from that library.

Best regards

Aly R Abdel-Moemin

Dear Prof. Aly R Abdel-Moemin,

Thanks for sharing me your interesting question. I'm a retired researcher and have a considerable number of books in the printed version for my reference and enjoyment. The total of those books might be called a library for myself. Some books (a lot more than 100; the record on my computer is not complete) are written in Japanese, and others (over 600) are in English. An extension of my library exists at the library of the university I worked; namely, I donated there some of the books (more than fifty, in English) I finished reading. [I sold many books (mostly written in Japanese) to old-book stores because of the space limitation of my house.]

As for electronic publications, most of such I have are PDF files of articles of my interest. I don't read books in the electronic version.

Best regards,

Tatsuo

When I have plenty of time I rather read books than using my laptop. When I have a little time, I rather use laptop or kindle.

I think both versions have their advantages. You can collect and take your electronic literature everywhere. Since people are relocating more than ever before, it is a huge + for electronic sources. Also, it is effortless to search in your electronic library. Almost everything is available online what none of the largest libraries can provide.

The old-fashioned hard book is nicer, better to read, and it is a great feeling to have your favorites around all the time.

I think the hard book will never disappear, but its significance will decrease during the time until a new balance will be reached.

Do you have a library at your home?

Yes, kind of mini-library.  It evolved from a study room & my wife (who likes reading) prefers to keep all books-like materials & computers into one place.  I used to dream about a place to store my book-based collection when I was younger and Thank God I can have one now.

How balance do you read from laptop and hard books?

For work related reading, ease of Internet / online cross-referencing / validation & the availability of journal articles in soft-copy, I will read from laptop.  For non-pressured casual reading, I prefer to read from hard-copy - because reading from laptop might invite a lot of distractions.

Do you think that hard books going to disappear?

No, I don't think so in the near future - unless the whole world moved into fully digital environment.

Are you with or against reading form hard books?

I don't against reading from hard books, but what modes to adopt depending on the scenarios as mentioned above.

yes i do have with 3492 books and around 200 journals 

Dear Prof. Tatsuo Tabata,

Thank you very much for your detailed answer. I love old books and keep them in my library to show them to my guests. Place and time are critical to have your own library.

Happy for your sharing

Aly R Abdel-Moemin

Dear Prof. Robert Istvan Radics,

Happy to see your nice comparing between hard version books and electronic ones.

Best regards

Aly R Abdel-Moemin 

Dear Prof. Han Ping Fung,

Thank you very much for your meticulous answer that added more information and experience to me.

Best regards

Aly R Abdel-Moemin

Dear Prof. Syed Amir Gilani,

Wow this is big number!  how to mange the space? did you read them all? do you invite guests for sharing reading? how to look after them?

I really like your answer now and then

Aly R Abdel-Moemin

Dear , Dr. Aly R Abdel-Moemin  .

Yes, I have a library in my home , I like old and modern books so much and prefer to read these books . I am with reading from hard books.

Best regards

In my opinion I think paperback books is not going to disappear. The ebooks which are cheaper to buy even if is free gives people the choice to view the interior content and then make decision of buying the hardcopy. One practical example is when I bought 'Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry' authored by Nelson and Cox. First I had gotten the e-book for free through a friend. It did not give me a full satisfaction for an intensive study with it. I had no choice than to buy the paperback book which is part of my library. And I am happy I did.

The importance of a library at home cannot be overemphasized. Personally, I study well at home than in a public library. However, this will only be practicable if you have a collection of books you can fall back to.

I want to applaud Dr. Syed Amir Gilani for the number of books in his library. Is very possible. Library cannot also be inherited and more books even added by the heir especially when in the same research path.

Kind regards

Egbuna, C.

Yes, my brother. Though it is not packed with a lot of reference materials though. It is one of the beautiful ways I get hold of my quick references for my fields of research. Best regards

Dickson Adom

Dear Dr Chukwuebuka Egbuna,

Thank you for positive input, yes I agree with you about the value of paper books and the library can be transferred from one generation to another or even donate it to universities.

Thank you for positive answer

Aly R Abdel-Moemin

Dear Dr Dickson Adom,

Thank you brother for your beautiful input.

Best regards

Aly R Abdel-Moemin 

Dear Dr. Han Ping Fung.

Thank you very much for your kind recommendation.

Best Regards

Dr. Y.A.Salih

Yes, I have....To date, the contents of the library have been adopted as sources for my research.

Dear Dr. Aly R Abdel-Moemin, Han Ping Fung,

I want to thank you all for your recommendations and positive remarks.

Kind regards.

Dear Dr. Dickson Adom,

Yes I agree with you. Is a very quick way to get references.

Dear Dr Yehya A. Salih,

Thank you for kind communication. I like also old and modern books. Probably because the high prices of books I do reading most from my laptop.

Nice reading

Aly R Abdel-Moemin

Yes I have library but highly unorganised. Availability of too many ebooks has killed classical books of any subject. Now a days it do not happen that generations do study same reference book.

One way to get a library organized is by donating some that you have used. which are not relevant in your area of specialization. It will give space for proper cataloging of the most relevant ones. U can also use your computer to keep inventory of them. This will allow you go get to the book you needed fast.

Even I love to read from hard books.and laptop for searching materials,,communication,writing articles,making ppts all other sorts of work laptop is very essential gadget whatever be the technology improved hard books cannot be replace by anything.

From

shaista jabeen

Dear Chukwuebuka Egbuna and Shaista Jabeen ,

Thank you for positive inputs.

Best regards

Aly R Abdel-Moemin

For me reading from a book is comforting but I always have to write in the book.  I want the notes of my thoughts in the margins of the book I use.

That is also comforting to me.