Is the paper phone book going the way of the film camera?

The 2015 St. John's telephone directory is smaller, thicker, and looks more like a travel guide than a place to find your dentist's phone number, but the new format is not likely to entice more consumers to let their fingers do the walking.

"I don't think I'm going to use it," Memorial University student Ryan George said of the brand new phone book which landed recently on his doorstep.  

George searched his brain for the last time he let his fingers do the walking across the pages.  

"Probably when I was in elementary or primary school," he noted.

George added that he looks up telephone numbers on his smartphone apps, or online search engines.

Jodi Mahon, a Memorial University employee, said she uses her computer to find telephone numbers while at work, but at home, she still uses her phone book.

"Usually my mother calls me, and says, 'can you look up a phone number for me?'" said Mahon.  

Mahon added that she's unsure if the new format of the phone book will work for seniors.

"Well, if you were an older person, you'd have to look for a magnifying glass," she said, holding out the book at arm's length to try and read the text.  

"This is really heavy."

120,000 phone books in St. John's

Yellow Pages, the company which makes the telephone directories, has been phasing in the new format in its 300 markets across Canada. It's in the process of distributing 120,000 phone books in the St. John's area.

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"Each market is different," said Fiona Story, a spokesperson for Yellow Pages.

The townie edition has a cover photo of Cape Spear and a headline proclaiming it "your go-to guide to the best of St. John's."   

Inside, the first dozen or so pages are devoted to health and wellness and a guide to local activities.

Story said the company knows that fewer people are using the traditional paper telephone book. She said 55 per cent of the company's business is in the digital realm, capturing phone numbers and other data on websites and mobile applications.

In some cities, Story said the white pages books have been discontinued, with the residential phone numbers available online only.

No need for listing

Phil Pennell has no intention of ever listing his business in a paper telephone book. He runs Phil's, a funky, one-chair barbershop in downtown St. John's. He advertises through word-of-mouth and social media, and takes appointments through text message.  

Pennell is not even sure what use he would have for the brick of paper.

"There's a few things I could prop up and stuff," mused Pennell. "Like, I might need to put it under the leg of a chair, or, you know, I don't know what else I would really do with it."

"I could get a retro phone I 'spose, and put that on the go with my phone book."

Pennell said he sees the value of a paper phone book for certain kinds of businesses, and even though he doesn't use one himself, he would be sad to see it go.

Paper phone book serves specific needs

Yellow Pages has no plans to discontinue the paper product. In an email, Story said "The print directory will remain a part of Yellow Pages` product offering for the foreseeable future. It continues to serve the needs of a specific set of customers and users."

University student Ryan George said he thinks the paper phone book won`t be around much longer.

"Probably within the next 10 years. Especially with technology booming really quickly," said George.  

"I think it's actually going to end very soon."