.....According to the article, the “digital transition” is tough for all book publishers, but it is especially tough for the college textbook crowd because students have zero sympathy for publishers and they’re often more than willing to rip ‘em off. “College students may be the angriest group of captive customers to be found anywhere,” says the author.
.....Websites that specialize in providing digital versions of textbooks for free keep popping up. Publishers keep stamping ‘em out, but it isn’t easy.
.....The Times article focuses on a particular textbook—“Organic Chemistry” by John E. McMurry—which lists for $209.95 and is usually sold at the discount price of $150. That’s expensive, and students certainly see it that way. And so, increasingly, students opt for used books. In this case, a used copy goes for $110.
.....But the popularity of used textbooks reduces profits, and so prices go up and students are more inclined than ever to buy used.
.....E-books potentially could change all that. The e-book version of “Organic Chemistry” sells (rents?) for $109.99. Selling an e-book cuts out the middleman (the bookstore), since the sale is directly to students, and it reduces the number of used books at the end of the semester.
• • • • •
.....The issue of the high cost of textbooks has been simmering for years in the SOCCCD. Students grumble endlessly, though they seem to do nothing beyond grumbling and buying used texts. Student government sometimes speaks for students, but student government, in our district, has a stake in bookstore profits, since that is a major source of revenue for them. Trustees (e.g., Wagner, Fuentes) sometimes zero in on this student government gravy train, but that usually just pisses everybody off.
.....It’s too soon to tell whether this e-book innovation will amount to anything. After all, students might well regard the scheme as another publisher rip-off.
.....I kinda hope it works.
• • • • •
.....Lately, DtB has been discussing the sorry state of our democracy. In my opinion, there is nothing sorrier than that democratic institution known as student government, at least what I've seen of it at our colleges. Undoubtedly, some good kids pop up there, but mostly it’s just a very expensive joke run (typically) by manifestly self-serving jokers. Most students seem not even aware that student government exists. Knowing how painful the textbook cost problem is for students, and knowing that one reason for the problem is the status quo re student government, it is very hard to watch typically hapless student officers give budget reports at board meetings and not wonder: maybe we oughta just pull the goddam plug.
.....You know how much I hate to agree with the likes of Wagner and Fuentes. But, at the very least, student government ought to get out of the book selling business.
5 comments:
Our college has a novel way to attack the high cost of books. The Foundation buys the books new. Then the ASB rents the books at a deep discount. Faculty sign a contract with ASB to not change textbooks for three years minimum.
It's our first year of doing this so we'll see how it goes.
Well, that sounds interesting. I'm surprised that publishers are willing to sell under those circumstances. But if they are, then, great, I guess.
I guess that I would be happy with the scheme only if (a) the "rental" price were a true bargain (there are only so many times that a book can be rented, and the original cost needs to be recouped) and (b) if what student government provides is of value to virtually all students. It seems to me that, in our district, the latter condition doesn't obtain. No way.
If so, then, even if we employed your college's clever scheme, students are compelled to pay for student government, despite its worthlessness (or near worthelessness) to them.
Again, I wouldn't mind so much if SG were plausibly valuable.
Over the years, it's been difficult observing the spectacle of student presidents (and student trustees) being embraced by odious creeps like President, then Chancellor, Raghu Mathur. Often, these (typically ambitious) students have allowed themselves to be tools of the fellow. When that occurs, student government seems, not just lacking in value, but positively disvaluable, a blight.
I don't think the publishers know the book rental is occurring.But so what, it's no different to the publisher than reselling the same book.
The Foundation is able to take a loss on the rental returns. I'll fish around for details.
Our Foundation used to be totally corrupt. With the departure of our ex-President it is actually beginning to perform.
We now have a Foundation scholarship program open to any District high school graduate that pays $500/semester towards tuition and books for two years. The student doesn't ever see the money, it is deducted from an account administered by the college. We've been running on empty here and it's good to see some initiative.
As far as student government goes it is at the tender mercy of the college President. We had an illegal student Bored Trustee that also broke immigration laws and committed California Penal (the pun is appropriate) Code misdemeanors. The now ex president flew cover for him. I think it was a case of professional courtesy. He's finally gone...took three years to earn a two year transfer. He'll make the papers where ever he lands. A student government can only be as good ethically as the college it serves. With Goo around mischief will happen.
Ugh, $110 dollars for something that is electronic and not permanent is painfully expensive. I'd be a bit apprehensive to even purchase that, especially if I'd have to lug a laptop (another $1,000 necessity) to class to get any real use out of it.
However, If they do go about offering their OWN e-books, without a doubt in my mind they will face an era similar to that of digital music or the software industry. Pirates galore.
Re student government:
I'm completely oblivious to the powers of any student body - my friends and I view them as completely unnecessary, and even go so far as to laugh at the posters with their "clever" slogans. Perhaps we don't understand their function?
Saddlebacks ASG is nothing more than high school friends who think anextra-curricular looks good on their CV.
For the record, it's senate who makes monetary decisions. Elected cabinet just plans parties. As a senator (I hesitate to name my department, but I have a feeling some may figure out who I am just by my writing), in years past, I witnessed first hand the favoritism. Senators rallied support of others to pass items they had a soft spot for, while unpopular items (like budget increases or decreases for departments and activities) were passed over. OF COURSE we have the option of controlling skyrocketing textbook rates. 11 CHILDREN made decisions on a weekly basis. The president, vice-president and treasurer positions are all a joke. I'm telling you these kids just dont CARE. They want an excuse to hang out with their friends. Thats it.
as to the book rental program torabora brings up, I think that's a great idea. Where I to rejoin the travesty that is student government I would definitely bring that to their attention.
There needs to be a stop to Professors changing books every semester, or even year. Supplemental articles can keep classes "current", the core of any discipline never really changes. I used a 3rd edition book when the professor wanted us to buy a 5th edition, and $100 more expensive, book... and never once fell behind the class. Conversly, I had one professor who used a first edition book that was around 7 years old. When speaking to friends in other sections of the same class- they werent learning half as much. Professors are starting to rely too heavily on the book, and not enough on the teaching aspect of their job.
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