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OPINION & EDITORIAL

Krystek misreads textbook issue

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by Letters to the Editor

Monday, September 17, 2007

The article ("Check it out: University needs textbook rental system," Sept.13) fails to provide an accurate view of textbook options and costs. Today's college student has more textbook options then ever before. Publishers are attentive to student concerns about higher education costs and have responded by introducing lower cost options including electronic books, loose-leaf editions, black-and-white editions, abbreviated texts, textbooks by the chapter and customized editions.

Publishers are also on the forefront of incorporating new technologies into educational materials. New textbook features include online study guides such as interactive tutorials, video lectures, practice quizzes, tutoring and study centers. E-books are also a great opportunity for students to save money and contribute to environmental efforts by eliminating waste.

The process of textbook pricing also needs to be clarified. There are many factors contributing to textbook costs including paper and ink, transportation, taxes and most importantly, the cost of paying authors, experts, editors, researchers and designers for their work. After all these considerations, publishers' income is only about 7 percent.

Publishers share the common goal of helping students succeed and are committed to working with students, parents and university members to make this goal a reality.

Stacy Skelly Assistant director for Higher Education Association of American Publishers

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Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 10:25am):

hahahahahahaha! that's why new editions come out every year making it impossible to sell back a basically brand new book. riiiiiiight.

Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 11:12am):

First off, Stacy, if you assistant director of anything regarding higher education, I would expect you know the difference between then and than (read the letter).

That aside, text book prices are out of control, and the fact there are new editions every few years adds to the problem (wouldn't want too many used texts to be available for purchase). You cannot tell me there are enough breakthroughs in calc or general physics, chem, or many other areas to warrant a new edition every 3 to 5 years. The only reason it is done is to ensure students have to buy new because the old is "outdated". Text books are a racket and something does need to be done about it. Many universities have book rental facilities, the UW should as well.

Anonymous (September 17, 2007 @ 12:17pm):

What a surprise, every time an article appears in the BH or DC about textbook prices or textbook rentals, a nearly-identical form letter appears the next day from the big textbook industry. BULL S-H-I-T. Do you really expect students at a top-ranked university to buy it?

Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 8:37am):

http://www.maketextbooksaffordable.org/textbooks.asp?id2=14215

Find out the real story.

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