2008 Woodie Awards
Letter to the editor
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Opinion
Editor's note: The following letter is in response to "Textbook prices hard to read," by Rob Amaefule, which appeared in the Apr. 7 issue of the WC.
The recent article, "Textbook prices hard to read" did not accurately represent the realities of today's textbook market or make it clear that textbook publishers' primary focus is on meeting the educational needs of students and faculty. It is the faculty-not publishers-who determine when new course materials are warranted and whether to "bundle" a textbook.
Faculty also choose supplemental materials they feel will best improve student success and learning. Publishers deliver these materials-which can also be ordered a la carte-as ordered. As for new editions, eighty percent of college instructors say it is important that textbooks used in their courses be as current as possible. According to the independent research group Student Monitor, students spent, on average, about $650 on textbooks in 2007.
Still, publishers understand student concerns about college costs. They have responded to these concerns by offering more textbook price and product options than ever before including abbreviated editions, no-frills editions, 3-hole punch editions, books online by the chapter and thousands of e-books. Students also have access to CourseSmart™, an online digital marketplace that offers several thousand e-textbooks and course materials in a common format at one Web site.
The site is a result of a partnership of six leading higher education publishers. Some believe that professors are kept in the dark about the price of textbooks and supplemental course materials. In reality, publishers go to great lengths to make faculty fully aware of these textbook options and of the corresponding price information. Faculties have access to price and product information through publishing marketing representatives and online resources. A quick Internet search using a textbook's ISBN (International Standard Book Number) or a text's title and author will yield hundreds of price and product information sources. Ultimately, publishers share the common goal of student success and are committed to working with all stakeholders to make this a reality. For more information, please visit www.textbookfacts.org.
-Stacy S. Skelly
Director for Higher Education Association of American Publishers
The recent article, "Textbook prices hard to read" did not accurately represent the realities of today's textbook market or make it clear that textbook publishers' primary focus is on meeting the educational needs of students and faculty. It is the faculty-not publishers-who determine when new course materials are warranted and whether to "bundle" a textbook.
Faculty also choose supplemental materials they feel will best improve student success and learning. Publishers deliver these materials-which can also be ordered a la carte-as ordered. As for new editions, eighty percent of college instructors say it is important that textbooks used in their courses be as current as possible. According to the independent research group Student Monitor, students spent, on average, about $650 on textbooks in 2007.
Still, publishers understand student concerns about college costs. They have responded to these concerns by offering more textbook price and product options than ever before including abbreviated editions, no-frills editions, 3-hole punch editions, books online by the chapter and thousands of e-books. Students also have access to CourseSmart™, an online digital marketplace that offers several thousand e-textbooks and course materials in a common format at one Web site.
The site is a result of a partnership of six leading higher education publishers. Some believe that professors are kept in the dark about the price of textbooks and supplemental course materials. In reality, publishers go to great lengths to make faculty fully aware of these textbook options and of the corresponding price information. Faculties have access to price and product information through publishing marketing representatives and online resources. A quick Internet search using a textbook's ISBN (International Standard Book Number) or a text's title and author will yield hundreds of price and product information sources. Ultimately, publishers share the common goal of student success and are committed to working with all stakeholders to make this a reality. For more information, please visit www.textbookfacts.org.
-Stacy S. Skelly
Director for Higher Education Association of American Publishers
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
A proud WIU grad
posted 4/11/08 @ 12:25 AM CST
I'm a assistant professor at a local community college, and I don't agree with several of the statements in this letter. As a biology instructor, keeping up with new technologies IS important, but we don't need a new edition to the text every other year. (Continued…)
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