Every year, a new phone book thick with listings would appear on your doorstep with a thud.

The old volume, dog-eared from months of abuse, would be relegated to the recycling bin.

Not so long ago, the thick tomes were the best way to stay connected.

But in the internet age, the phone book has gone the way of the rotary dial and the pay phone.

The phone book started falling into disuse years ago. Once critical tools, they've become useless for most people, and most are turfed immediately. Nearly 400,000 tonnes of directories end up in the landfill every year in the United States.

In a sign of the times, Yellow Pages, after moving listings online, stopped distributing phone books to all residential homes in Edmonton in 2010.

Customers who want an ink-on-paper phone book can still get one delivered, but they have to request one from the company.

'The print is too small'

Elderly Edmontonians who grew up with the phone book seem divided on cutting the cord. CBC News talked to several people over lunch at the Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton drop-in centre downtown.

"The print is too small and it's just easier to use a computer. I just punch in Canada 411 and it comes up," said Joan Carlson. "I can find it easier online and it just seems to be logical now.

"Before was before. Now is now."

John Heimer, who was also spending his afternoon socializing at the drop-in centre, appears to be an outlier, even among those who have sprouted a few grey hairs.

"I still use the phone book and I still use pay phones, and I get sad when I can't find one," Heimer said.

(Apparently a few phone booths still exist at in the lobbies and parking lots of Edmonton hospitals.)

"I'm so used to using pay phone and phone books. I still use them, and I like them."

When was the last time you used a phone book? Let us know in the comments section below.