High costs create concerns for many textbook shoppers

According to The Washington Post, the Federal Government Accountability Office found textbook costs rose twice as high as the national inflation rate from 1986 to 2004. A College Board survey found that students spent an average of $853 per year on college textbooks.

Prices are steadily climbing.

The U.S. legislature currently has multiple bills on the table dealing with soaring textbook costs. The ideas in question range from regulating publishing companies to instituting a price ceiling, as well as increasing government financial aid available for students.

The campus bookstore manager, Debbie Cottrell, said, “As a student, I think you feel like nobody is aware of it, but they really are, and your legislators are … looking into it. They know there’s a situation there.”

The campus bookstore has seen a decline in sales.

“It’s probably not as noticeable on this campus as it is other campuses. But I think we have seen an increase of students buying (books) elsewhere,” Cottrell said.

To take a step in the direction of today’s technologically savvy college students, last summer the bookstore made the pre-purchasing of textbooks online available at bookstore.umhb.edu.

Two weeks before next semester begins, the site will be updated for navigation. Students simply type in their class course codes, select the books desired, add the items to their cart, pay online, and their books are ready for pick-up in the store shortly thereafter.

“Every semester we’ve had more and more people use it, some in the fall, and a tremendous amount in the spring,” Cottrell said.

“It was really easy,” freshman education major Sara Lewis said. “All I had to do was get my schedule and match up the subject with the course number. Basically, all I did was look up the class, and it would list the books I needed, what was required, how much they were, and if they were (available) new or used or both.”

Other students find a combination of buying online and the campus bookstore works best for them.

Sophomore nursing major Lesslie Howie said, “I did not stop purchasing books from the bookstore completely because there were some that I could not find elsewhere.”

Freshman elementary education major Brianna Van Zandt, who has purchased books from Amazon and eBay said, “I bought what I could online and then a couple from the bookstore.”

Online purchasing does have its disadvantages, though.

 “(You) never know if the person will actually send the books,” senior accounting major Heather Gates said. “They might not show up in time. You could order the wrong book, like the international version, which has different problems in the accounting books.”

Other students have found a modern convenience offered through the social network Facebook, called the Marketplace. Students can both purchase and post items for sale, making them viewable to others within their Facebook network.

Sophomore nursing major KariLyn Hill said, “I chose to purchase books through Facebook because I wouldn’t have to pay for shipping.”

The campus network on Facebook currently has more than 50 books posted. Buying items within the network grants a certain security and assurance of getting what is expected.

“You don't have to pay to list your books, and you don't have to mess with shipping if you don't want to,” Hill said. “You can sell or buy from students at the same school as you, which I think makes it easier and probably safer.”
Whether students plan to sell their used textbooks online or to the campus bookstore during buy back, Cottrell said, “The number one thing that will make a book have absolutely no value immediately is to get it wet .… They mold. They get yucky.”

Cottrell also suggests keeping the covers intact. “Highlighting is OK as long as it’s not excessive,” she said.
Buy back begins Monday, April 28, and will be available until Friday, May 2.

“We try to make as many used books available as possible,” Cottrell said. “We’ll actually start ordering our used books for the fall semester in June because they’re a lot harder to get.”