Seek any research material and Net is there for you. Not only that, you can even shop online for books. Cyberspace has made life easier for the purchaser. Just log on, click on your topic of interest, go through the contents, view extracts from the book, read it and decide on. After that think for yourself whether you actually need to purchase it.

Teens today turn to the Net for 'better' stuff -chatting and mailing that may hold a larger percentage of their interest than surfing for books.

Sadly the attraction (actual, not virtual) books offer has seemingly gone down among the present generation. Alas, cyber surfers do not know what they are missing. True, books have always been irreplaceable and will always remain so. The best companion that you have in your leisure time and when you are lonely - be it while going to bed or during travel. Nerds might prefer a laptop or a notebook PC to read a novel while travelling. For me, it has to be actual books with pages of paper and odour of print.

And I am proud to announce that at least in my school, books are still read with rapt attention and enjoyed. Maybe the trend is coming back. Their role can never change nor can their value Books are an investment. Invest in books and secure your future. Books are never a waste of money even though the Net is spreading its tentacles everywhere taking down even the most avid book reader along - hook, line and sinker.