Editor,
The article "Bookstore may not offer best bargains" in Tuesday's Daily Lobo fails to give an accurate description of textbook pricing and options. The reality is that college students have more textbook options available today then ever before. Publishers have responded to cost concerns by expanding options for lower-cost texts, 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 technology into textbooks, offering new online study features such as interactive tutorials, video lectures, practice quizzes, tutoring and study centers. These new innovations help improve student success and retention rates and provide more personalized learning.
As the end users of textbooks, today's college students are intelligent consumers and are gaining more market power because of increased competition and the Internet. For instance, e-textbooks are a good option for students on a budget because they are offered at a discount to the traditional text due to eliminated printing and shipping costs. Another perk of electronic versions is the positive environmental impact they can have by reducing waste while still providing the same educational value.
Regarding profits, publishers' income after taxes, printing, binding, paper and other expenses is about 7 percent. Yet, as publishers continue to take steps to develop a range of instructional materials, student spending on textbooks has generally remained steady with independent research center Student Monitor reporting that students spent an average of $670 on textbooks in 2006. Publishers share the common goal of helping students succeed, and they are committed to working with students, parents and faculty to make this goal a reality. For more information, please visit TextbookFacts.org.
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Stacy Skelly
Assistant director for Higher Education
Association of American Publishers
