NEW YORK - The e-book boom has reached new heights, but not high enough to boost book sales overall.
A new survey says e-book sales jumped in January and surpassed purchases of hardcovers and mass market paperbacks. E-book sales were helped by millions of Kindles, Nooks and other digital devices given for holiday gifts.
The Association of American Publishers reported Thursday that e-sales more than doubled from $32.4 million in January 2010 to $69.9 million in January 2011. Hardcovers sales fell from $55.4 million to $49.1 million, and sales of mass market paperbacks, a declining format as baby boomers seek books with larger print, fell from $56.4 million to $39 million.
Total sales were $805.7 million in January, slightly below the $821.5 million reported last year. That includes the education and professional markets.
