Lawrence resident Karen Black checks her e-mail at home in her apartment. Black estimates that she has about 15 e-mail addresses she uses for both personal and business use.

Karen Black admits she often jumps at the sound of the beep.

You know which beep I’m talking about.

The beep of news from a loved one.

The beep of important business information.

The beep of tidings from a new friend in a Third World country who desperately needs help with an international money transfer.

Yes, it’s the beep from your computer – or now your phone or Blackberry – that says you have new mail.

“If I’m relaxing at home before I go to bed and I hear it beep, I’ll go check it,” Black says.

Black, who is an owner of Lawrence’s Local Burger restaurant, isn’t alone. A new survey by online giant AOL found that 46 percent of e-mail users surveyed said they’re addicted to e-mail. That’s up from just 15 percent a year ago.

The survey, conducted this summer, found 51 percent of people check their e-mail four or more times per day. One in five said that they check their e-mail more than 10 times per day.

Black doesn’t even count anymore.

“Honestly, I’m in my e-mail most of the day, unless I’m on a special project,” says Black, who estimates she has about 15 e-mail addresses between her business and personal interests. “Only if I need to really concentrate am I ever out of it.”

But can you get too much of a good thing? The survey indicates people are on the verge of finding out. It reports there’s almost no place that is immune from the e-mail beep. The survey found that 59 percent of people regularly check e-mail in the bathroom, 50 percent check while driving, 39 percent while in a club or bar, 25 percent while on a date and 15 percent while in church.

Black says the need to be tied to an e-mail account has caused tension with friends and family, especially when she had a career in international telecommunications and was required to carry a mobile e-mail device with her everywhere she went.

“There is a proper time and place for everything,” Black says. “Sitting or relaxing with friends is not the time to check your e-mail. I’ve learned that.”

Nancy Baym, an associate professor of communication studies at Kansas University, says that’s her main piece of advice as well – face to face conversations should take precedence over e-mail. But otherwise, Baym says she’s not too concerned that Americans are becoming overly engrossed with e-mail.

“People constantly checking how a sporting event is coming along probably does more to interrupt conversations than e-mail,” Baym says.

On behalf of men everywhere, ouch.