我得坦白：我會(huì)在圖書(shū)館的書(shū)上寫字。我控制不了自己。但是別擔(dān)心，圖書(shū)管理員女士，我總是用筆跡很淡的鉛筆寫， 然后把我的涂鴉全擦掉。不過(guò)，我這么做不是心血來(lái)潮，而是為了引用做標(biāo)記。我讀完書(shū)后，會(huì)找出想引用的地方，把它們打出來(lái)，然后擦掉標(biāo)記。

我不愿相信它只是一本借來(lái)的書(shū)。我喜歡把書(shū)一放就是幾個(gè)月，讓它們求著我去垂青。我不愿意過(guò)上 7 天或 14 天就把它們還回去。而即使我很快就用熟了在線續(xù)借系統(tǒng)，它也只讓我續(xù)借三次（他們就是為了提防我這種貪心人才設(shè)了限）。

既然圖書(shū)館的書(shū)不可以往上寫字，又不能長(zhǎng)期持有，那我是不是應(yīng)該買書(shū)？

我過(guò)去是買書(shū)的。但除非一本書(shū)讓我愛(ài)不釋手，否則我不愿買紙質(zhì)版本，即便我喜歡紙質(zhì)書(shū)我也不買。它們昂貴、沉重、容易損壞，而且很占地方。

事實(shí)上，我想要一個(gè)優(yōu)質(zhì)的電子閱讀器。這種閱讀器尚未問(wèn)世，但這只是時(shí)間問(wèn)題。我有過(guò)兩個(gè)版本的 Kindle，但都賣掉了。糟糕的界面和操作方式（搖桿和吵鬧的翻頁(yè)按鈕） 毀了我的用戶體驗(yàn)。iPad 也不是我的“真命天子”——它的屏幕有背光，而且不好在上面作標(biāo)記。具有諷刺意味的是， 在 iPad 上使用 Kindle 的應(yīng)用程序比直接用 Kindle  還好。

我曾經(jīng)討厭電子書(shū)這個(gè)創(chuàng)意。我覺(jué)得紙張的感覺(jué)好得多， 而且電子書(shū)不會(huì)真的流行起來(lái)。那時(shí)我真是太天真了。紙質(zhì)書(shū)終將步卷軸和石板的后塵，成為只有收藏家才感興趣的東西。電子書(shū)閱讀器（無(wú)論是獨(dú)立的設(shè)備，還是整合進(jìn)移動(dòng)設(shè)備里）將更適合我們的生活方式，未來(lái)的幾十年里，我們將逐漸向它們轉(zhuǎn)移。

我想，在目睹了科技和文化的迅猛發(fā)展之后，我們大多數(shù)人的內(nèi)心深處都知道這一點(diǎn)。這不是壞事，只是有點(diǎn)不同罷了。就像任何科技革命一樣，電子書(shū)也是優(yōu)缺點(diǎn)并存。

我仍在等待優(yōu)質(zhì)的電子書(shū)閱讀器。我已暫時(shí)壓下了購(gòu)書(shū)欲，待我發(fā)現(xiàn)一個(gè)足以取代紙質(zhì)書(shū)的設(shè)備，再買電子書(shū)回來(lái)用它讀。

與此同時(shí)，我將繼續(xù)造訪地方圖書(shū)館。即使算不上理想讀者，我也會(huì)做個(gè)忠實(shí)訪客。

Here’s my confession: I write in library books. I can’t stop myself. But don’t worry, Mrs. Librarian, I always use light pencil and I erase all traces of my graffiti. I don’t do it just for the thrill, though—I mark quotes. When I finish the book, I find the quotes, type them out, and erase my markings.

I don’t want to believe it’s just a loaned book. I like books that sit around for months and beg to be picked up and read. I don’t want to give them back in 7 or 14 days. And even though I became quick friends with the online renewal system, it only lets me renew three times (they set limits because of greedy people like me).

So the library doesn’t work for books I want to write in and have on hand for a long time. So should I buy them?

I used to. But unless it’s a book I’m extremely excited about, I’ve found myself not wanting to buy a paper version, even though I love paper books. They’re expensive, heavy, easily ruined, and take up a lot of space.

The truth is, I want a good e-reader. It’s only a matter of time before one exists. I’ve owned two editions of the Kindle, but sold them both. The terrible interface and control mechanisms (a joystick and noisy page turning button) ruined the experience. The iPad isn’t The One either— the screen is backlit and there isn’t a great way of marking books. The irony is using the Kindle app on the iPad is better than the Kindle itself.

I used to hate the idea of e-books. I thought paper was far superior and that it wouldn’t really catch on. That was naive. Eventually paper books will go the way of scrolls and stone tablets—of interest to collectors, but not to the rest of us. E-book readers (either as separate devices or integrated into mobile devices) will fit much better into our lifestyles and we’ll gradually move to them in the coming decades.

I think most of us know this intuitively as we watch how technology and culture is progressing. This isn’t a bad thing; it’s just different.  There will be advantages and disadvantages, just like any technological revolution.

I’m still waiting to meet a good e-book reader. My compulsive book buying has been put on hold until I can buy them digitally to read on a device that I feel is a worthy alternative to a paper book.

And in the meantime, I’ll be a loyal—if not ideal—visitor to my local library.