Turning the page on textbook prices

Last week marked the start of a new term at many colleges around the country. A friend of mine who worked at a college book store during last week's book rush told me of the horror on students' faces when their purchases were totaled. No matter how long you've been in school, you never get over the shock of paying $200 for just one text book.

Fortunately, lawmakers are starting to pay attention to the continually rising cost of textbooks. Some feel publishers are to blame for producing new editions of books that haven't greatly changed. Others think professors should take more care in choosing the material they require students to purchase. The College Opportunity and Affordability Act (HR 4137) includes three provisions that would help keep textbook prices under control.

1. It requires publishers to provide textbook prices to professors so they can take the price into consideration when choosing their books. 2. It requires that the items in bundled packages must also be sold separately so students won't have to pay extra for CDs and workbooks they may not need. 3. It encourages colleges to provide book lists to students before the semester begins so they have time to look for used copies, if available.

HR 4137 has passed in the House and is now under consideration by the Senate. To learn more about the bill, read this summary from the Public Interest Research Groups website.

In the meantime, some students are proposing the use of open textbooks or textbook rentals at their colleges as alternatives to the expense of new books.