Next month, universities will be mandated under the reauthorization of the Higher Education Opportunity Act to make information available about how much books cost each semester. Experts say these rules will force faculty to choose materials earlier, students will have the option to buy materials à la carte and will get more money when they sell books back.
If bookstores have a better idea what books will be used any given semester, it “allows us to pay students more for their unwanted books” that can be resold, said Jade Roth, vice president of books for Barnes and Noble College Booksellers. The company operates the bookstore at Wright State University and 650 other colleges across the country.
But it is that used book market, which when combined with wholesales is typically more than 20 percent of any college bookstores business, that publishers contend is at the root of the high costs of textbooks. Bruce Hildebrant, executive director of higher education for the American Association of Publishers, said used books seriously limit the profits of publishers.
“There are more choices and lower prices today then anytime in history because of technology,” he said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2342 or cmagan@DaytonDaily News.com.
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