As I sit down to write this column, I’m looking forward to my book club meeting tonight.

I love books. While as a group, we may only read four to five books a year, I read about 40. This year, I am on track to read 50.

Ten years ago, I purchased an e-reader, in my case, a Kindle. An e-reader (short for electronic reader) is a portable digital device designed specifically for reading electronic books (eBooks) and other written content such as newspapers and magazines.

Purchasing in 2015, I was somewhat behind the times, as e-reader sales had taken off in 2010 and started to decline by the time of my purchase as tablets and smartphones gained popularity. However, today, e-readers, like my Kindle Paperwhite, have a loyal following, especially among seniors. There are many reasons for e-readers’ popularity.

I used to read paperbacks and hardcovers, but as time went on, I realized I was having greater difficulty seeing the font clearly. I could use my glasses, but having proper lighting was also an issue. I often read in bed and didn’t want to turn the light on, fearing I would wake my husband.

The e-reader seemed like a great solution because it contains its own light, and I can easily adjust the font size, so I don’t need my glasses.

There are many other benefits to using an e-reader. It is very lightweight and easy to hold. I used to lug around a physical book, and many times, trying to fit it in my purse was a challenge.

Besides being bulky, if it was a paperback, I was advertising to the entire restaurant what I was reading. (Sometimes, a gal just wants to read a Lucy Score book without the world knowing).

Another great benefit to the e-reader is that when I open it, I am right where I left off-no bookmark needed. If I need to look up the definition of a word, there is a built-in dictionary (you just tap the word), and I can even highlight passages.

I love the fact that with my e-reader, I have easy access to thousands of books via Amazon, which I can download directly to my device. I can also borrow Kindle- formatted books from the library. For $11.99 per month, I can access over 4 million books with a Kindle Unlimited subscription.

All in all, there are numerous e-reader options for buying or borrowing books.  As with my Kindle, I can purchase books from Amazon, borrow books from the library, and sign up for a subscription service that offers  unlimited access to of eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines.

Some Kindle books can be loaned to a friend for up to 14 days. Your recipient doesn’t need a Kindle — just a free Kindle app.  The one catch is that you can’t read the book while it’s loaned.

I have two dear friends who are audiobook lovers. My friend Denise does a great deal of car travel and loves to listen to books to pass the time.

My friend Jim has macular degeneration and can no longer read anything but the largest fonts. At 86, Jim spends a great deal of time with his audiobooks. He uses his tablet to access books via Audible. He also uses voice commands rather than typing anything into the tablet to get the books he wants.

I have yet to find a limit to the number of books I can store on my Kindle. Currently, I have approximately 200 books stored. Depending on the size of the books I want, I can store between 3000 and 6000.

If you have not considered an e-reader, it may be a perfect addition to your life. It’s a simple, eye-friendly way to keep reading enjoyable and accessible at any age.