Second-hand books thrive amid proliferation of e-books

MANILA, Philippines - Even before the resumption of classes, “Ann” had already anticipated the materials she might need for her subjects this semester, a major part of which are her school books.

Ann, 18, stressed that books have always been a huge part of her academic life since she claimed that she needs a lot of references to be able to cope with the lessons for the course she is currently taking up.

“Books are important because it’s complete,” she said. “[Also] You can bring it anywhere.”

“Unlike if you have them photocopied, it would be a clutter. Furthermore, if you want PDF or PPT (powerpoint), you would need a laptop or e-book reader.”

She added that her textbooks have always been helpful because they provide certain exercises that help her understand the lessons easily.

“Sometimes, [my books provide] questions and exercises that help me answer queries about a certain topic.”

Also a student concern with saving her allowance, Ann remarked that sometimes she just borrows books if they are not really required to buy one.

Most students in the country might have the same concern as Ann now that another school year is about to start.

Books would be highly in demand again since students would face another set of subjects to be taken up.

Through the years, books, especially those used as reference in school subjects, have always played a major role in helping students survive school. Most students resort to different means to avail such necessity, even technology.

To this day, however, bookstores and second hand booksellers assert that they are still the most in-demand sources of books.

Harvey Quesora, officer-in-charge (OIC) of Booksale Robinson’s Novaliches branch, said the 30-year-old store, which sells mainly second-hand books, is still active

especially during the months of June and December.

“The sales are high during December since customers buy them as gifts to their friends,” he said. “Of course, [sales] is also high during the school year.”

Dan Gaffud, owner of Bookayukay, also shared the same stand with regards to the sales of second-hand books. Bookayukay is a known second-hand bookstore near University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman in Quezon City.

“[We are in-demand] during school days. There are more customers here on school days since it is near UP and other schools,” he said.

He added, however, that the entire income is not the type of revenue that would make one rich.

“This was just a dream before. It just so happened that it came true, out of the love of reading,” he said. He and his other former classmates share ownership of the store.

Recto, known as the haven of second-hand booksn at the heart of Manila, also has its sellers claiming their stores have always been highly sought-after during the period of classes.

Ophelia Viernes, owner of a book stall along Recto, bragged that for almost 10 years, her business will never go fusty.

“This [business] is for the poor. This is the business that never decays no matter how long it takes,” she said.

“[The month of] June is always the period with the highest sales because of the start of classes.”

The arrival of technology: electronic books

Electronic books (E-books) are another product of technology concerning a wide array of books published online which are open for sale and sometimes, downloads for free.

Quesora said it might be a big threat to those in the book business if it becomes stronger in the Philippines.

“It might kill the industry of books because people would not need to read [printed] books instead just download them in their e-books.”

Russel Temblor, supervisor of C&E Bookshop Recto branch, said that the fate of the second-hand books industry would depend on the students.

“Technology would not be prevented, it would be the choice of the students,” she said.

However, she claimed that it is unlikely that everybody would resort to relying solely on electronic books.

“Not everybody can avail ebook so most likely the others would still go with print [books],” she added.

Normin Naluz, owner of Wish you Well bookstore in Quezon City, stressed that such application on the internet is not comfortable and that it could never top the love for printed books.

“There could be problems in comprehension, for me personally and I’ve talked to other people and they also find it hard to comprehend what they were reading,” she said.

“It is still different when you’re used to printed [books] which you can bring anywhere, you can use anytime, you can read before bedtime.”

Wish you Well is also a second-hand bookshop in Teacher’s Village near UP Diliman.

Viernes said online books are just for people who have money and who study in private schools.

“Those who do not have money rely on these [businesses],” she said. “Those in the province also use our books. So those without money could not really afford it [online books].”

Gaffud, however, said printed books and online books are not on the same aspect and therefore should not be made as competitors.

“You can’t say that digital is just a subordinate of real [printed] books as you can’t also say real books are superior to ebooks. They are different,” he said.

What’s with online books?

Quesora said online books are comfortable because you can read them at any moment.

“The disadvantage is that you can’t charge it if there is a brown out,” he said.

He added that not everybody can afford electronic books so there are still people who would resort to buying printed books.

Naluz said one advantage of electronic books is its easy accessibility and availability.

“You could find both new and old titles in e-books,” she said. “It is easier to find if they’re available in the e-book format.”

She added that it is easier to update online books unlike in print wherein the editions are sometimes outdated.

“[It’s good] as long as there would be no problem with regards to comprehension and access. And it is available for everybody.”

Temblor said online books also present good effects to readers.

“[In] e-book, it’s faster, easier to copy and paste,” she said. “It’s faster to download [so there is] speed and availability.”

However, she said it could only work as alternative to printed books.

“It is okay as alternative, but to totally go with e-books would be unlikely since it has its limits.”

What printed books have that online hasn’t

Quesora thinks that printed books are still better than electronic books because they could be preserved.

“You could hand them down [to other people]… as long as you take care of it, no matter how many decades will pass, they will still be there,” he said.

“I still love books more because our minds were opened through them. They are what we have been used to.”

Temblor said that students consider textbooks as primary references since they are readily available in the market and they could easily borrow those books.

“In print, [they are] actual items that you could see,” she said. “Print [books] are better because you can preserve them unlike books that need internet access and a gadget.”

Aside from being handy, Naluz also said that she prefers printed books better than online ones because of her “innate love for the printed books” which is “indescribable.”

“If you’re a reader and if you talk to a fellow reader you share something for the love of books that you can’t describe,” she said.

“It’s like when they found a book they have been searching for so long, ‘Oh at last!’ That kind of feeling.”

Naluz added that there are still quite a number of students who do not have access to online books.

“Very few people can afford them… very few people have the gadgets and access to the internet,” she said.

Viernes also shared the same thought, saying that some students could not afford to buy a computer and are just renting internet at computer shops.

She also claimed that online books can also be inconvenient since they are dependent on power supply and internet access.

“What if there is a power-out, how can [one student] use the internet?” she said. “[Printed] books could still be read… internet is not important because

if there is no electricity how can one study?”

Gaffud added that reading e-books would also require long hours in front of a computer, which may be harmful for the reader's eyes.

“It’s hard to read e-books because you’re sitting in front of the computer for too long,” he said. “Nakakasilaw ‘pag matagal ka nagbabasa sa computer (It hurts my eyes if I read too long in the computer).”

Gaffud asserted that although electronic books are the most accessible today, the appeal of printed books is just different, especially the old ones.

“There is a research that says the scent of an old book has an appeal which triggers the senses of people,” he said.

“There are still many people who prefer reading real [printed] books over e-books. [It’s] tangible and it has an appeal which I can’t describe. Our other customers also claim they feel the same.”