The Internet has been considered a miracle for society's progression. Digitizing one's conventional social network created an international community where ideas, news and even friends can circulate through wireless routers. The Web even provides access to information and most of our joys in life. For instance, access to books is not limited by the distance of our local library or retailer. Electronic versions of texts, known as e-books, are available through the Internet and handheld devices known as e-readers.

E-readers were part of a dusty past until Amazon launched the Kindle in 2009. The e-reader's new look sparked appeal for many consumers, particularly students. Instead of hauling multiple books at a time, students are able to relieve the burden on their shoulders by simply carrying an e-reader. As e-readers begin to fill the homes of both the young and old, some people have wondered whether bookstores can survive in this new digital age. It has been a little over a year since the e-reader made its debut to American consumers since then and 6 million of the devices have been sold. This has had a significant effect on popular book store chains-Borders' total revenue in book sales decreased over 17 percent after the launch of the e-reader.

Regardless of how enticing the Kindle appears, I view e-readers as an alternative to books, not a permanent replacement. Simply put, books elicit a sentimental value to humans that interconnected wires can not.

There are some who feel the need to have a paperback in their daily travels. Many are nostalgic for the act of flipping through the pages of a book from back when they were a child. We can collectively remember enjoying the simple pleasures of a book, which, unlike our electronics, do not require a charger or a cable plug in order to be used.

E-readers pose other threats to print books specifically for college students. Aside from storing textbooks in a compact space, the e-reader could potentially save students from spending more money than they would for physical books. In most locations, the e-book has been cheaper to buy than the physical textbook. Many universities, including Brandeis, provide students with the option of buying eTextbooks as part of Barnes & Noble's NOOKstudy software.

However, print books still provide a sense of value in our lives that can not otherwise be satisfied by an e-reader. I can personalize my version of a Jane Eyre classic by writing beside the text, highlighting the words or even wrapping it as a gift to a friend. Visualizing the structure of a story and being able map out thoughts on paper allows for an environment that inspires creativity and, consequently, writing.

A physical book offers freedom and choice. I can browse through a bookstore looking for a text that appeals to my very own personal tastes. I am offered the tactile experience of being close to the pages that I will read and to the words of the author. Furthermore, I can go to a bookstore or library, relying on my own mind to judge and understand a text without the constant suggestions that pop up on an e-reader.

Over time, students might be enticed by the idea of an e-textbook, yet as some of us continue to write in our diaries or purchase the classic novel, we must be reminded of our privilege in using the fabric that our ancestors used in an age without electronics. Ideas and concepts that we have learned were once discovered in documents that were written with only ink and paper. A physical textbook still offers us the intimate setting where we can experience history in our hands.