Physical vs. Digital Media

How many streaming services do you subscribe to? Netflix? Disney+? Spotify? Amazon Prime, Audible, or Kindle Unlimited?

Have you ever been looking forward to a movie that you know is on a streaming service you have, only to discover it’s not there? You wonder if you're remembering wrong, so you check another service. You still can't find it, so you google the movie to see where it is. Turns out, it's now only available for purchase on Amazon Prime Video or by subscribing to a brand new streaming service that's popped up.

Recently, HBO Max removed nearly all of their Scooby-Doo animated movies from the streaming service. Now, if my Scoobtober blog didn’t clue you in, I’m a die-hard Scooby-Doo fan. My whole family loves those meddling kids and their dog. We had a collection of direct-to-VHS Scooby-Doo movies stacked next to the TV in their own special holder.

What am I supposed to do if I want to watch Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy or Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare or the all-time classic Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island? Pay to rent it from Amazon every year? Buy a license---did you know things you buy on Prime Video aren’t actually yours---to watch it? That license could be revoked at any time, and then I’d be right back where I started.

In the end, I bought a copy of Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island on DVD, but the whole experience got me thinking about the ongoing tension between physical and digital media. The two have been pushing and pulling since computers became a household item and phones began to fit in pockets.

As a librarian, you probably expect me to support physical media (physical books, DVDs, etc.) wholeheartedly, but you’d be wrong. I do personally prefer books, but they have disadvantages. The same goes for digital media.

So, after all that build up, here are all the pros and cons I could think of for physical and digital media.

Physical Media

I’m considering physical media anything you can hold in your hands and must physically prepare for use (think putting a DVD into a player or prepping a vinyl record for listening).

While you can technically hold digital media in your hand via a phone or tablet, it does not have the same feel as opening a book or CD case, which is the main distinction I’m making here.

Despite what you might think, physical media isn't dead. Libraries are still filled with books, video games still come on cartridges and discs, and vinyl has experienced a hipster-tinted comeback in recent years. Maybe that vinyl one is a phase, but at least people are having fun.

Pros

Physical marker of progress

This applies more to books than things like CDs or DVDs, but it’s still an important pro. I feel very accomplished when I see my bookmark moving as I read more. It also gives me a good idea of how fast I’m reading and when I should start placing more books on hold because I’m close to finishing my current one.

Only pay once (or not at all with the library)

If you buy a physical book or DVD or audio cassette tape, it’s yours. The only way it’s disappearing is if you throw it away, it gets stolen, or it ends up so damaged it’s no longer usable. But, if you keep it in good condition, it’s yours forever.

Additionally, you can pay for books or DVDs, or you can borrow them for free from the library. Physical books won’t disappear before you finish reading them unless you turn them in yourself. The same applies to DVDs or any CDs you decide to borrow. Plus, if you decide you don't actually like what you borrowed, you can happily return it knowing you didn't spend any money.

No reliance on wi-fi, device battery, or working electricity for books

Do you remember the February 2021 Winter Storm and how very few people had power?

I do. Unfortunately, I forgot to charge my phone before the event, so it died within a few hours. My books, however, did not rely on wi-fi or battery life for me to read them. So, I was saved from boredom while we waited for the rolling power to hit us.

No risk of a streaming service dropping the title

I have been burned by HBO Max silently removing my Scooby-Doo movies without any warning. Trust me, it’s so much nicer to know you won’t have to rely on streaming services for the movies you want to watch.

Cons

Portability can be an issue

If you’ve ever seen a Sarah J. Maas book or something like Babel by R.F. Kuang, you can imagine how clunky they can be to carry around. It’s hard to justify carting a 400+ page book with you when you aren’t even sure you’ll get the chance to read it.

Books have higher risk of mold/water/tear damage

Despite paper being a medium that can survive centuries (consider all the diaries, newspapers, and scrolls that we can still read today, despite them being literally ancient), it is not invincible.

Water damage can ruin readability, mold damage means you must throw out the whole book and, potentially, any others it touched, and tearing can be hard to fix.

Take up physical space

A full bookshelf is nice, sure, but have you ever tried moving your book collection? I have. It’s a pain.

I had to warn the movers before they tried picking up my army trunk because it was full of books. I think one of them nearly threw out their back because they didn’t believe me.

Imagine the same issue but with DVD/CD cases, vinyl records, and audio cassettes. It’s even worse because you have to be extra careful about not damaging those items. Books, at least, can be thrown around a little.

Another aspect is having to carry them around in a bag. If you remember carrying textbooks and assigned reading in your backpack in school, you know what I mean. They make the bag heavy, cause undue strain on your back/shoulders, and limit how much you could otherwise carry.

Wait time

Whatever you’re buying or borrowing, you must either go get it or wait for it.

This could be fun. Trips to bookshops or record stores can make for fun outings. However, if it’s something you need desperately, such as a book for class, the trip out or waiting for delivery can be stressful.

Digital Media

Digital media is any content that requires a device to access.

While this doesn't always require Wi-Fi (downloading an audiobook or TV show to your phone means you carry the file on your device instead of having to connect to the internet), the device itself is necessary.

Pros

Portable and all-together

Phones and tablets are undeniably more portable than books, DVD players, or CD players. Music apps like Spotify (or Freegal), streaming services like Netflix (or Kanopy), and Audible or Kindle for books (or Libby) all fit on your device. There’s no need to pack three different devices in your bag for the day when one in your pocket is more than enough.

Instant access and disability accessibility

As long as you’ve got Wi-fi, or downloaded whatever you want, you can pull out your device wherever and whenever for instant access.

All devices and most apps also have screen reader capabilities, allowing access for people with visual disabilities.

Digital library items will automatically return themselves

When you borrow physical items from the library, life can get in the way of turning them in on time. And even though HCPL no longer charges late fees, being late is still stressful.

Borrowing through Libby, however, means the items will return themselves without you having to do anything. You can enjoy your book with zero stress.

Cons

Streaming services can drop items, and digital media can go out of service

Remember me complaining about HBO Max dropping their Scooby-Doo content? Huge disadvantage to digital media. There’s also when digital mediums go out of service or can’t be afforded anymore. Sometimes websites forget or can't afford to renew their domain name, or programs like Adobe Flash Player are discontinued.

Once programs and websites like that are gone, the only thing preserving them is people who create workarounds or the Wayback Machine, opens a new window.

Constantly paying for monthly services

Family Spotify is $20 a month, Netflix is $25 a month if you want no ads and more screens. Hulu is $19 a month without ads. Disney+ is $16 a month without ads.

None of that includes all the niche services you might want for the shows they provide. Obsessed with Star Trek? Your only option is Paramount+, which is $13 a month without ads.

How much of your budget is being eaten by services you don’t use that much?

Beholden to battery life

If you’re out all day with more time than you know what to do with, you’re probably reading or playing games on your phone.

You’re out of luck if it runs out of battery and dies on you. No books, no streaming services, no nothing. With a book, you don’t have to worry about its battery dying.

Devices can overheat and reduce service life/damage the battery

Speaking of battery life, using your device so much that it overheats is a great way to weaken your device’s battery. The moment your phone starts feeling hotter than the sun, it’s usually best to put it away and let it cool down.

At least you don’t have to worry about books or DVD players overheating.

Clearly, both options have their advantages and disadvantages.

I still prefer physical media myself; nothing can replace the feeling of turning pages as I work through a story. That being said, I have grown fonder of digital media.

Things like comics or graphic novels are easier for me to read on my phone or laptop. I also appreciate the ability to turn off my phone at the drop of a hat and know I can pick it right back up whenever I want.

I'm not sure if the toll digital media has on my wallet is worth the convenience, though. I get the feeling that the prices companies demand are quickly approaching a line in the sand, one that will make me cancel my subscriptions if crossed. 

Until then, however, at least I still have ad-free music on Spotify.

Is there an advantage or disadvantage I missed? Have your preferences changed over time?

And take time to check out HCPL’s digital offerings if you haven’t already. I’m sure we have more than you’d expect!