AJ stands for Andrew Jackson, our 7th president. His reputation for toughness earned him the nickname "Old Hickory." A hero of the War of 1812, Jackson has appeared on the $20 bill since 1928.

Go to the store

You can buy a traditional book at a regular store or online. By "traditional" I mean a paper or hardback book that you can hold in your hand and read without an electronic device.

The Traditional Way

Barnes & Noble and Borders are two examples of brick-and-mortar (or "regular," meaning you can see them on a street when you drive by) book stores with lots of choices.

Two examples of online stores (you won't see these stores on the street—you have to click the right buttons on a computer!) are Books-A-Million and Amazon.

ClosePros:

• You can buy used as well as new books at online or traditional book stores.
• You don't have to buy an electronic device before you buy regular books.

Cons:

• New books from a regular store cost more than books purchased on an e-reader.
• It takes more time to get a traditional book, whether you spend it going to a book store or waiting for an online order to arrive.
• Traditional books aren't easy to carry around—they weigh as much as a pound and can occupy quite a lot of space.
• You can lose or damage a traditional book.
• If you write a lot of notes in the book, it can get messy. If you don't own the book, that's a no-no.

The Cost?

The price of a traditional book at a regular book store usually ranges from $5 to $25, with the average price being about $15.

Close More Time

For example, waiting for an online order could take anywhere from two days to two weeks.

If you need the book right away (for your literature class, for example), well, you are going to be in a little trouble.

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Libraries rock!Libraries Rock!

Libraries are cool places to visit. You can sit and read a book in a comfortable chair, on a carpeted floor with cushions, or at a desk. You can check out books and take them home, too.

And it doesn't stop there. At a library you can see notices for interesting events for kids, check out videos and DVDs, get homework help, read current and old newspapers and magazines, see the newest book releases, and more.

My favorite libraries in the Chicago area are the Peoria Public Library and the Chicago Public Library.  
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Go to the library

The no-cost alternative to e-book readers or bookstores is the library. Finding a library is not a problem because there's a library in almost every town, and certainly in every city.

Pros:

• Libraries offer thousands of books, maps, dictionaries, the Internet (for free!), and more.
• You get to see people you know, find out what's going on in your community, and keep up with the news.
• At a library you can get expert homework help from well-trained staff.
• The books in a library are free as long as you return them on time.

• Why bother buying a traditional book at a regular store?

  People don't lose books they pay for.

  We all have a lot of time to kill.

  You might find a used copy for less money.

  Everyone loves messy notes.

  Why bother buying a traditional book at a regular store?

  0% People don't lose books they pay for.

  0% We all have a lot of time to kill.

  80% You might find a used copy for less money.

  20% Everyone loves messy notes.

  
  They are in perfect, or at least good, condition.
• You can order your books or videos online to be reserved for you.

Cons:

• If you write in them or lose them…well, let's just say that you are going to be in a slight dilemma.The Dilemma
  
  It takes diligence and time to run a library and keep the costs free. Anyone can forget the due date of a book and return it late and have to pay.
  
  This is one of the problems of a library book: You have a limit on how long you can have it. It's not yours forever.Close
• You have to work a little harder to pick up your book at a library than to get it on your e-reader. It takes about as much time as finding a regular store to buy a book.

Are you ready for my opinion?

Death of traditional books?Death of Traditional Books?

Although many people think that e-book readers are the death of book stores and traditional books, they are wrong. That's because:

• E-readers cost a lot to purchase, maintain, and replace.
• We enjoy the sensation of holding a beautiful book and reading it.
• Many people end up purchasing traditional books that they've read on their e-book readers.

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If you read a lot and want a lot of books to read, consider the e-book reader. Even though it costs a lot of money, it contains a lot of books with a lot of variety.

But if you buy an e-book reader and don't use it, it would be a waste of money.

If you aren't a big reader, stick to the traditional books that you borrow from the library or purchase.

Consider all the options, whether you're an avid reader or not. I hope this article will help you decide!

Montgomery County EFCU What makes credit unions so great? Members like you. Every dollar you invest in your credit union earns you money while other members borrow it. When you're ready for a loan, other members' savings will be there to help you out at the lowest possible cost.