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Lines
of last minute textbook shoppers wrap through
the University Bookstore. The bookstore
will have extended hours during the first
week of school to accommodate students.
Staff photo
Bills
seek to alleviate high textbook costs
By
Katie De Boer
Online Forty-Niner
Staff Writer
According
to a survey done by the California Public
Interest Research Group (CALPRIG) in the
January issue of "Rip-Off 101: How
the Current Practices of the Textbook Industry
Drive Up the Cost of College Textbooks,"
by Merriah Fairchild, students will spend
an average of $900 per year on textbooks.
It
seems the prices keep rising and every year
a new edition is required for classes. Many
of the textbook prices are rising rapidly
because publishers seem to be adding new
"bells and whistles," including
CDs and workbooks, that students rarely
use.
Senior,
Jennifer Hansen said, "Of the four
years I have been attending college, many
of my professors don't use the CDs. It seems
to be a big waste of money."
On
June 15, 2004, in the San Jose Mercury News,
reporter Jessica Porter stated that "California
is the second largest market in the $4 billion
national textbook publishing industry."
As
of Monday, Aug. 23, two bills passed the
Senate floor which were sent to the Assembly
for a procedural vote.
In
the first bill, AB 2477, Fairchild "urges
textbook publishers to change many of their
current practices so that, among other things,
they "unbundle" textbooks from
expensive CDs and disclose the price of
textbooks to faculty." This means taking
off some bells and whistles.
The
second bill, AB 2678, "urges public
colleges and universities to set up textbook
rental services and provides a process by
which schools can successfully implement
a campus-supported, self-sustaining rental
service." A textbook rental service
could provide books to students without
creating the financial hardship that purchasing
textbooks entails.
If
the bills pass the Assembly, they will go
to Governor Schwarzenegger and a new law
may be enacted.
What
about the increase in fees, and the decrease
in Financial Aid? According to Fairchild,
a letter was sent earlier this month to
Governor Schwarzenegger from CALPRIG referencing
the "$147.7 million in cuts to student
enrollment, financial aid and academic outreach."
This was devastating to the 7,000 students
that were turned away from UC and CSU schools,
middle-class cal-grant recipients, and the
large percentage of lower income applicants
who counted on outreach programs to assist
them with school costs.
CALPRIG,
along with many other organizations urged
the governor to examine the budget for wasteful
government spending instead of cutting higher
education. Schwarzenegger consequently signed
a bill to increase the aid. Some of the
aid will be given back to students so that
they can afford books and living costs while
attending college.
Thompson
Learning is a good example of how textbook
publishers drive up the price of textbooks.
According to Fairchild's article, Thompson
Learning produces a widely-taught series
of introductory calculus textbooks. One
of its most popular books, "Calculus:
Early Transcendentalists," reveals
only superficial changes between the current
edition, produced in 2003, and the previous
edition, produced in 1999. The price difference
is significant. Fairchild's article revealed
"a new copy of the book sells for about
$130, while a used copy of the previous
edition sells for between $20 and $90,"
depending on where students shop.
So
where are the best places to buy books?
First it is always best to check out Aida's
University Book Exchange Inc. located on
the corner of Bellflower and Abbeyfield
next to the 76 station and across from CSULB.
The store supplies used textbooks at a very
low cost.
"I
try to buy all my books here because I save
a couple hundred dollars. Next to the prices
of books it is a better relief to know that
while standing in line I won't pay as much
on the used books," Hansen said. "The
textbooks are put on the shelf Online, but
they go quick so make sure to get there."
Also,
there is an on-campus bookstore located
near the library. The hours for the first
week of school are Monday toThursday 7:30
to 10:00p.m., Friday 7:30 to 4:00p.m. and
Saturday and Sunday 10:00 to 4:00p.m. Following
the first week of school, the bookstore
will revert to its normal hours.
The
University Bookstore offers used books,
however they sell out quickly. The bookstore
also offers plenty of other useful services
including access to an ATM machine, bus
passes, computer repair and services, clothing
and gifts, fax services, money orders, and
postage stamps, just to name a few. There
is also a Campus Copy Center located on
the first level of the University Bookstore,
near the textbook aisles. If you are having
trouble finding a book or if you have any
questions, visit the information booth located
in front of the book aisles or go online
and order your books from the bookstore
Web site at http://www.csulb.edu/aux/bookstore/.
Another
useful Web site is www.campusi.com. It compares
textbook prices and finds the best deals.
If you are in need of a book right away,
try Borders located off of Bellflower near
Target.
This year, try to get your books early and
beat the crowds. Good luck!
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