Yes, Paula, the E-book is reality. I too can sit at my computer and read Shakespeare just like Captain Jean Luc Picard. Botanical keys, encyclopedias, biological entries on species, chemistry, and architectural styles are perfect E-books. You go to a certain section to find specific information. Looking for a theme in literature like shadowing can be easily done as a search of the text in an E-book.
Reference books are perfect for the electronic format.
Read Lot books are in paper format. When we look at the book as an object it must be in paper. The binding, the gold leaf edging, the quality of paper, and the texture play important roles that can not be duplicated online. That sounds like rare book collecting but is relevant for library books. You want an art book in hardcover.