For all that die-hard bibliophiles say they will never ever give up their actual printed books, they may be fighting a losing battle. E-book sales are up 118 percent this year over last. The number comes from to the Association of American Publishers. You don’t have to buy your e-books though. Public libraries will let you borrow them for nothing. Not without some fine print though.

Gigi Douban reports from Birmingham, Ala.