The Pew Internet & American Life Project of the Pew Research Center has just issued an interesting new report:

The Rise of E-Reading

See here for a summary of the report’s findings, including but not limited to the following:

• A fifth of American adults have read an e-book in the past year and the number of e-book readers grew after a major increase in ownership of e-book reading devices and tablet computers during the holiday gift-giving season.

• The average reader of e-books says she has read 24 books (the mean number) in the past 12 months, compared with an average of 15 books by a non-e-book consumer.

• 30% of those who read e-content say they now spend more time reading, and owners of tablets and e-book readers particularly stand out as reading more now.

• The prevalence of e-book reading is markedly growing, but printed books still dominate the world of book readers.

• E-book reading happens across an array of devices, including smartphones.

• In a head-to-head competition, people prefer e-books to printed books when they want speedy access and portability, but print wins out when people are reading to children and sharing books with others.

• The availability of e-content is an issue to some.

• The majority of book readers prefer to buy rather than borrow.

• Those who own e-book reading devices stand out from other book readers and there are sometimes differences among device owners in their reading habits.

• Device owners read more often.

• Device owners are more likely to buy books.

Hat tip to ResourceShelf.com.