A Report on the Feasibility of Textbook Rental - IBHE

3 January 2007Ms. Judy ErwinExecutive DirectorIllinois Board of Higher Education431 East Adams StreetSpringfield, Illinois 62701-1418Dear Ms. Erwin:On behalf of Chicago State University (“CSU”), thank you for the opportunity to share our comments onthe Draft <strong>Report</strong> on Textbook Costs and Rental Facility (“Draft <strong>Report</strong>”) for the Illinois Board of HigherEducation (“IBHE”). For the past several years, CSU has partnered with the Follett Corporation tomanage our bookstore. Over the term of this partnership, Follett Corporation has improved offerings andexpanded schedule resulting in increased focus on product and service offerings; and more importantlyincreased student, faculty and administration satisfaction. Follett has run the bookstore operation moreefficiently and lowered the cost of college materials for CSU students.We offer the following management concerns and questions regarding the draft report:• Students pay rental fees, with no guarantee of a market for their used books and course materials.Will students realize a return that significantly lowers their overall annual cost for textbooks?• Will the program create supplies of obsolete books and course materials?• Will any legislative solution take into account the educational and financial needs unique to eachinstitution?• Ala carte offerings, i.e. bundled vs. unbundled book and course offerings. Can an institution offeronline book swaps or unbundled book and course materials based upon an assessment of thefinancial parameters of the program?• What will be the source of funding for inventory, facilities and staffing to start an in-housebookstore operation?If you have any questions regarding our comments or the information we previously provided in ourresponse to the study, please feel free to contact me directly.Best regards,Alan D RobertsonVice PresidentAdministration and Financial Affairs-106-