Words are worth a thousand bucks: the rising cost of textbooks
While students stumble down the halls trying to balance the hefty weight of plastic bookstore bags filled with glossy texts, their eyes glaze over with thoughts of sheer terror and disbelief that they just dropped close to a grand on books.
According to a new study conducted by the United States Government Accountability Office (GOA), college textbook prices have nearly tripled in price from December 1986 to December 2004 — a price that has increased at twice the rate of inflation.
Even living north of the border doesn't exempt Canadian college students from gouging textbook prices.
“Textbook prices in Canada and Australia tend to be similar to those in the United States because the instructional styles tend to be similar in that instructors select specific textbooks for their classes,” the study says.
The GOA study investigated what factors contributed to the change in price and international differences in textbook costs by interviewing publishing executives, used textbook wholesalers, textbook retail store operators and the National Association of College Stores.
“I feel for kids with limited budgets and grants. In terms of tuition, books have gone up a lot in 20 years,” said David Smith, Manager of Retail Service at Fanshawe College, who also said students are initially “stunned” at textbook prices.
“I was expecting [textbooks] to be expensive, but it just seems like one cost after another,” said Lucas Shearer, first year Landscape and Design student, who spent about $800 on books and supplies for his program.
The Ministry of Education recommends students in both college and university set aside $1000 for textbooks and supplies each school year. Considering the average college student pays $1820 for tuition, the bill for books and supplies equals more than half the amount paid in tuition.
Financial Aid have been issuing emergency bursaries for students who have trouble budgeting for essential supplies and according to Fanshawe Financial Aid Manager Doreen Whitehead, requests for funds to buy books are topping the list of emergencies.
“We have had so many requests I can't even count,” Whitehead said about the amount of students who have recently asked for financial help to purchase textbooks. It usually takes 24-48 hours for students to receive up to $500 for expenses.
“My experience has been if they don't have their books within the first two weeks of school they fall behind,” Whitehead said.
So, why are textbooks so expensive?
“We don't take a high cut on books in comparison to clothing and merchandise,” said Smith, who explained the Fanshawe College bookstore has a 22 per cent margin on texts.
Smith, who also teaches economics at Fanshawe, said it is hard for teachers to find relevant resources and most good information comes at a high price.
The GOA study claims the gradual rise in textbook prices can be associated with new features, such as website access and other instructional supplements.
“A lot of my books are new editions. They get you with those,” said first year Developmental Services Worker student Heather Archibald, who spent $500 on her first semester textbooks.
Although those supplements may aid both students and teachers, the GOA study points out those enhancements limit the longevity of texts.
“Wholesalers, retailers and others suggest that while supplements may be of value to students, the increasing practice of packaging them with textbooks effectively limits the students' ability to purchase less expensive used books,” the study found.
By issuing pin codes for access to textbook affiliated websites, resourceful textbook publishers have found a way to cash in on the used textbook market. Students, including some at Fanshawe, who buy used textbooks are at times required to purchase pin codes in order to access information and even assignments from the course websites.
According to Smith, individual teachers decide whether or not the pin codes are necessary for courses. He also said that supplementary material found on the Internet and course specific WebPages are valuable sources of information.
Clayton More, a first year Liberal Arts and Sciences student, was discouraged by the long lines at the used bookstore and ended up buying all his books new. Meanwhile, Shearer and fellow Landscape and Design student Brad Powrie didn't even know the FSU sold used books.
Currently the library does not provide students with up to date textbooks because it would be too expensive, but Martie Grof-Iannelli, Fanshawe Library and Media Studies Manager, along with the FSU are working on a new project that offers students another choice besides buying new or used textbooks.
“The FSU approached the library about providing textbooks on reserve for students use,” Grof-Iannelli said. The proposed project, which is still being discussed and not yet available, would give students access to the required reading materials for a designated period of time.
Without such a system in place the GOA study suggests textbook prices will continue to climb, due to publishers lack of consideration for students when developing the text, who ultimately will be forced to purchase these textbooks one way or another, when developing the text.
Where your textbook dollar goes
According to a new study conducted by the United States Government Accountability Office (GOA), college textbook prices have nearly tripled in price from December 1986 to December 2004 — a price that has increased at twice the rate of inflation.
Even living north of the border doesn't exempt Canadian college students from gouging textbook prices.
“Textbook prices in Canada and Australia tend to be similar to those in the United States because the instructional styles tend to be similar in that instructors select specific textbooks for their classes,” the study says.
The GOA study investigated what factors contributed to the change in price and international differences in textbook costs by interviewing publishing executives, used textbook wholesalers, textbook retail store operators and the National Association of College Stores.
“I feel for kids with limited budgets and grants. In terms of tuition, books have gone up a lot in 20 years,” said David Smith, Manager of Retail Service at Fanshawe College, who also said students are initially “stunned” at textbook prices.
“I was expecting [textbooks] to be expensive, but it just seems like one cost after another,” said Lucas Shearer, first year Landscape and Design student, who spent about $800 on books and supplies for his program.
The Ministry of Education recommends students in both college and university set aside $1000 for textbooks and supplies each school year. Considering the average college student pays $1820 for tuition, the bill for books and supplies equals more than half the amount paid in tuition.
Financial Aid have been issuing emergency bursaries for students who have trouble budgeting for essential supplies and according to Fanshawe Financial Aid Manager Doreen Whitehead, requests for funds to buy books are topping the list of emergencies.
“We have had so many requests I can't even count,” Whitehead said about the amount of students who have recently asked for financial help to purchase textbooks. It usually takes 24-48 hours for students to receive up to $500 for expenses.
“My experience has been if they don't have their books within the first two weeks of school they fall behind,” Whitehead said.
So, why are textbooks so expensive?
“We don't take a high cut on books in comparison to clothing and merchandise,” said Smith, who explained the Fanshawe College bookstore has a 22 per cent margin on texts.
Smith, who also teaches economics at Fanshawe, said it is hard for teachers to find relevant resources and most good information comes at a high price.
The GOA study claims the gradual rise in textbook prices can be associated with new features, such as website access and other instructional supplements.
“A lot of my books are new editions. They get you with those,” said first year Developmental Services Worker student Heather Archibald, who spent $500 on her first semester textbooks.
Although those supplements may aid both students and teachers, the GOA study points out those enhancements limit the longevity of texts.
“Wholesalers, retailers and others suggest that while supplements may be of value to students, the increasing practice of packaging them with textbooks effectively limits the students' ability to purchase less expensive used books,” the study found.
By issuing pin codes for access to textbook affiliated websites, resourceful textbook publishers have found a way to cash in on the used textbook market. Students, including some at Fanshawe, who buy used textbooks are at times required to purchase pin codes in order to access information and even assignments from the course websites.
According to Smith, individual teachers decide whether or not the pin codes are necessary for courses. He also said that supplementary material found on the Internet and course specific WebPages are valuable sources of information.
Clayton More, a first year Liberal Arts and Sciences student, was discouraged by the long lines at the used bookstore and ended up buying all his books new. Meanwhile, Shearer and fellow Landscape and Design student Brad Powrie didn't even know the FSU sold used books.
Currently the library does not provide students with up to date textbooks because it would be too expensive, but Martie Grof-Iannelli, Fanshawe Library and Media Studies Manager, along with the FSU are working on a new project that offers students another choice besides buying new or used textbooks.
“The FSU approached the library about providing textbooks on reserve for students use,” Grof-Iannelli said. The proposed project, which is still being discussed and not yet available, would give students access to the required reading materials for a designated period of time.
Without such a system in place the GOA study suggests textbook prices will continue to climb, due to publishers lack of consideration for students when developing the text, who ultimately will be forced to purchase these textbooks one way or another, when developing the text.
Where your textbook dollar goes
- 36¢ Book Manufacturing
- 13¢ Publisher's Overhead
- 13¢ Bookstore Rent & Overhead
- 12¢ Publisher's Marketing
- 11¢ Bookstore & Personnel
- 5¢ Editorial
- 4¢ Author's Royalty
- 4 ¢ Publisher's Profit
- 2 ¢ Corporate taxes
