A Report on the Feasibility of Textbook Rental - IBHE

Spring 2007: ISBN 0-618-75386-9 Raimes: Keys for Writers New 5th Edition. (This book does not haveanything from NIU included. All the Sections Headers are the same as the 4 th Edition. There doesappear to be some changes to the book.) We plan to sell all of the books. The Handbook is only used forreference in writing assignments.I believe that this is a perfect example of how a publisher tries to force the sell of new books to thedetriment of the students of Northern Illinois University.In a free market system without the tactics of publishers like the illustration above, here is how it shouldwork.$100.00 new price of book$75.00 price of used book (student buys used)$50.00 Student sells book back to bookstore (assuming the book is used in the following semester)$25.00 true cost to student for the cost of the book. (this saved the student $75.00 or 75% of the cost ofthe text)This would be my suggestions to greatly hold down the costs of College textbooks:(1) Bookstores (college and private alike) should receive the book information in a timely fashion toensure the best price to the students and allow bookstores to search for used books.(2) Limit the adoption of books with new editions and needless changes or custom editions that haveno resell value. These books limit the students ability to purchase used books and sell his/herbooks back at the end of the semester.(3) Force publishers to sell textbooks unbundled. The burden of unbundling should be on thepublisher not the bookstores. Bookstores should not be forced to double stock the bundles andthe individual parts.(4) Prohibit faculty, staff or departments to benefit financially from the sell of required textbooks andmaterials.(5) Insure that any charge systems implemented by the College or University or its Agentsrepresenting the University or College share these charge systems with Private Bookstore in theCollege or University community. This would increase competition and give the students theability to shop for their books and supplies. This is addressed in the “University Credit & RetailSales Act” of Illinois. Some Community Colleges in the State of Illinois believe that this act doesnot apply to them. I do not agree with that assumption.I believe that these changes would greatly decrease the cost of textbooks to Illinois students and theirparents.I would be honored to provide more examples of bundling abuse by publishers or my testimony ifneeded to help with this issue.Respectively Yours,Lee BlankenshipVillage Commons Bookstore-105-