Digital vs. Physical: Where Do Used Books Stand?

A Format War with Real Consequences

In a world where stories are summoned from the cloud with a tap, the battle between digital and physical books is often framed as a matter of convenience for readers. Beneath the surface, however, this shift carries deeper consequences—especially for the secondhand book industry and the bookstores that depend on it.

While digital books offer portability and speed, they bypass the traditional pathways that keep books in circulation. They often represent a closed loop—consumed but not shared—whereas physical books become branching pathways of discovery, passed from reader to reader. These tangible volumes are the lifeblood of local bookstores, the bridge between authors and new audiences, and the foundation of a sustainable reading ecosystem.

So where do used books stand in a world that’s increasingly digital? And more importantly, what happens to the bookstore experience when resale, trade-in, and discovery are stripped away?

The Vanishing Shelf – How Digital Books Disrupt the Bookstore Ecosystem

Digital books bypass the centuries-old ecosystem of bookselling—one built on circulation, discovery, and community. Digital copies don’t sit on shelves. They aren’t traded in, donated, or stumbled upon by chance. Once purchased, they vanish into private libraries—locked behind screens and licenses. For bookstores, this means fewer books in circulation, fewer opportunities for discovery, and fewer reasons for readers to walk through the door.

The secondhand book trade depends on movement. A book bought new might be read, then passed to a friend, then sold to a local shop, then picked up by a curious browser years later. This cycle sustains inventory, fuels serendipitous finds, and keeps authors visible long after their launch window has closed. Digital books interrupt that cycle. They’re static, solitary, and—most critically—unable to circulate.

For bookstores, this shift is existential. Without a steady stream of physical books entering the secondhand market, shelves grow sparse. Readers lose the joy of stumbling upon a title they didn’t know they needed. Authors lose the chance to be rediscovered by new audiences in unexpected places.

The rise of digital formats doesn’t just change how we read—it changes where we read, and whether we read together. Bookstores are cultural infrastructure. They host readings, spark conversations, and connect readers with stories they might never find online. If uninterrupted, this shift could lead bookstores to the same fate as VHS rental shops—not overnight, but gradually, over decades, as digital formats quietly replace the physical exchange that sustains secondhand bookselling.

The Author’s Dilemma

For authors, the shift toward digital formats presents a paradox. On one hand, digital books offer global reach and instant access. On the other, they quietly erase one of the most enduring ways authors stay visible: the secondhand shelf. Alarmingly, in the current ecosystem, authors have little incentive to push for physical sales or support the resale market, as the benefits are often unclear.

Digital sales offer clear advantages—higher royalty percentages, faster distribution, and access to international audiences without the overhead of printing and shipping. These benefits are especially valuable for independent authors and small publishers.

But what’s often overlooked is the long-tail visibility that physical books provide. A book that enters the secondhand market can live many lives—passed from reader to reader, discovered years after its release, and recommended in person by bookstore staff. This kind of organic, community-driven discovery is nearly impossible to replicate in digital spaces, where algorithms prioritize newness and popularity over depth and diversity.

Authors who rely solely on digital formats may find their work disappears quickly after launch. Without physical circulation, there’s no shelf presence, no chance encounter, no second wave of readership.

At Author Advantage, we believe authors deserve more than a moment in the spotlight—they deserve a lasting presence in the reading ecosystem. That’s why we advocate for keeping books in motion through resale, donation, and discovery. We also recognize that under current incentives, physical books are likely to decline in popularity. By providing direct author support in resale environments, we can strengthen the case for physical publishing and ensure that twenty years from now, readers will still be able to find copies of the books they loved in 2025.

Bookstores as Cultural Infrastructure

Bookstores have always been more than retail spaces. They are what sociologists call a “third place”—a social environment distinct from home and work, where people gather, connect, and belong. Like cafés, libraries, and parks, bookstores offer a kind of informal public life that’s increasingly rare in a digital-first world.

In a bookstore, you don’t need a membership, a login, or a purchase to participate. You can browse quietly, strike up a conversation with a stranger, attend a reading, or simply sit and think. These spaces foster community, curiosity, and connection—values that are difficult to replicate in online environments built for speed and transaction.

The rise of digital books threatens this infrastructure. When books are downloaded instead of discovered, the need for physical gathering spaces diminishes. Readers no longer visit their local shop to browse or ask for recommendations. Authors lose a venue for events and signings. And communities lose a space where ideas are exchanged freely and organically.

This loss won’t be felt all at once. It will happen gradually, as foot traffic declines and shelves thin out. But the impact is profound. Without bookstores, neighborhoods lose a vital cultural anchor—a place where stories are shared, voices are heard, and people come together around something deeper than commerce.

At Author Advantage, we believe bookstores are essential to the health of the reading ecosystem. That’s why we support secondhand circulation—not just to keep books in motion, but to keep these spaces alive. Because when bookstores thrive, communities thrive.

Sustainability and Circulation

When it comes to sustainability, digital books are often seen as the greener choice. But the reality is more nuanced. According to a life cycle assessment by HHC Earth, the environmental impact of reading depends heavily on how many books a person reads—and whether those books are new or reused.

The study found that if someone reads fewer than 25 books over five years, physical books have a lower greenhouse gas (GHG) impact than digital ones. This is because the energy and materials required to manufacture and charge an e-reader outweigh the emissions from producing and distributing a limited number of paper books.

And that’s just for new books. If a physical book is read more than once—passed on, resold, or donated—the environmental benefit increases significantly. In fact, each additional reader effectively doubles the sustainability threshold, making secondhand books one of the most eco-friendly ways to read.

This reinforces the importance of keeping books in circulation. When a book is reused, its carbon footprint is spread across multiple readers. When it’s locked in a digital format, that footprint is fixed—and often higher than we assume.

At Author Advantage, we believe that sustainability isn’t just about reducing waste—it’s about extending the life of stories. By supporting secondhand sales and donation programs, we help ensure that books continue to serve readers, authors, and the planet long after their first purchase.

Looking Ahead

The shift toward digital reading isn’t inherently negative—but it does require intentionality. If left unchecked, it risks eroding the systems that have long supported authors, bookstores, and communities. The convenience of digital formats is undeniable, but so is the cost of losing the spaces, relationships, and circulation patterns that physical books make possible.

Looking ahead, the challenge isn’t to resist digital innovation—it’s to ensure that physical books remain viable alongside it. That means rethinking incentives for authors, creating infrastructure that supports resale, and educating readers about the long-term value of keeping books in motion.

At Author Advantage, we’re committed to building that future. We believe that every book deserves a second life, and every author deserves a lasting presence. By supporting secondhand circulation, bookstore partnerships, and author royalties tied to resale, we’re working to ensure that the books published today will still be discoverable decades from now.

The question isn’t whether digital books will dominate—it’s whether physical books will be allowed to coexist. And if we want to preserve the joy of browsing, the richness of community spaces, and the sustainability of shared stories, we need to act now.