Dymocks survey finds preference for print books highest among under 30s

A survey of Dymocks’ loyalty program members has found that readers under the age of 30 are the most likely to preference print books over ebooks.

The annual survey, which was first conducted in 2013, was carried out online by Qantas Loyalty, with responses from ‘almost 20,000’ members of Dymocks’ Booklover Loyalty Program.

Only five percent of respondents aged 16-30 said they preferred to read ebooks, compared to 8% overall. Eleven percent of respondents aged 31-40 preferred ebooks, making them the most ebook-friendly age group, followed by those aged 41-50 and 61-70 (both 10%).

‘Our research shows that there is a skew towards the older generations among those that prefer ebooks over print,’ Dymocks managing director Steve Cox told Books+Publishing. ‘The reason for this is uncertain, but likely to be impacted by their lifestyles—with many travelling—and also by disposable income available to purchase dedicated ereading devices.’

‘The research indicates clearly that it is the under 30s, both male and female, who most strongly prefer print books over ebooks. Again the reason for this is uncertain, but also likely to be impacted by the cost implications of purchasing ereading devices, as well as social attitudes towards print versus ereading options.’

Cox added that ‘to receive 20,000 survey responses just shows how engaged with reading our Australian customers are, which is great news for the industry’.

In last year’s survey, the overall percentage of respondents who preferred to read ebooks was also 8%.

Category: Local news