Whilst Kindle offers millions of titles in ready-made download format the lockdown has clearly demonstrated the limitations of the online world.
The forced closure of Sheffield's Local Studies Library and Archives Department at the end of March called time on scores of historical research projects that relied on original documentation as no digital version existed.
Local historian Neil Anderson decided to put the time to good use and make arguably one of the most important books every written about the city available to the whole world for the first time.
Sheffield has regularly had a troubled relationship with tourism in recent years. Some decades have found it shouting about its tourist traps from the rooftops; other periods have seen it giving up the visitor ghost altogether.
In fact the success of The Full Monty caused nothing short of an identity crisis in the corridors of power with tourism virtually off the agenda altogether - not everyone thought it portrayed Sheffield in the best possible light.
But that wasn't the case in 1879 when arguably the biggest and best tourist guide to the city was produced - something that is now widely available for the first time in nearly 140 years.
Far from being world's away from modern 21st century city life - Neil Anderson says there are actually many similarities.
He said: "The guide promotes retail therapy in Cole Bros, a sumptuous dinner in the Cutlers' Hall and a relaxing night's sleep at the Royal Victoria Hotel - all things you can still do today.
"Parts of it contain all the hallmarks of a 21st century Sheffield marketing brochure - but with a distinctly Victorian twist!.
"It was published in an exciting period that saw the earliest tram routes opening out to Attercliffe, Hillsborough and Nether Edge. Working Men's Clubs, which began springing up in 1871, were on their ascendency right across the town and the cult of celebrity was alive and kicking, there's actually a chapter entitled 'Sheffield Celebrities'. The most notable was poet James Montgomery."
Neil Anderson - who actually bought an original copy of the ultra-rare book on ebay - used lockdown to get it digitised and to re-publish an abridged, physical version.
One of the most popular attractions of 1879 definitely won't make it to Sheffield's top tips of 2020. That was a trip to the South Yorkshire Lunatic Asylum at Wadsley Park. It offers "extensive lawns, flower gardens and shrubberies" with all general maintenance "performed by the lunatics".
The ‘1879 Illustrated Guide to Sheffield - Abridged' is available now on Amazon in both digital and physical versions.
