Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Kevin Fiscus

If your jaw has ever dropped while handing over the credit card at the bookstore counter, perhaps that won't happen again. Well, maybe if you are still studying in 2010. That's when a new textbook law rolls into effect.

The College Transparency Act lists new guidelines publishers and bookstores must follow, including printed summaries on new textbooks showing the differences in content between editions and copyright dates of the previous book.

The new law will require "postsecondary education institutions to institute practices that encourage textbook adopters to place their orders with sufficient lead time to enable the university-managed bookstore or contract-managed bookstore to confirm the availability of the requested materials," the bill states.

Publishers must provide a summary of substantial differences and the copyright dates of the previous version on the insideor front cover of all new editions.

The difference in editions should provide professors with information on whether or not it's time to update textbooks for academic reasons, not just cosmetic differences.

Whether or not professors are sympathetic to student needs is vital. David Manahan, environmental science professor last semester, said he understands students' concerns but is doubtful about what the bill can actually accomplish.

"Even if more information is available, who will take the time to look at and process it? And even if we do analyze the info, what then?" he said.

Manahan said book-shoppers could be placed in an undesirable position.

"Students, professors and administrators are all over-worked and continuously asked to do more with less. Not a favorable condition for info gathering and synthesis," he said.

Publishers generally get the blame from students and professors for skyrocket textbook prices, but what is their side of the story?

Stacy Skelly, assistant director of Higher Education at the American Association of Publishers, said the AAP is supportive of the new law.

"Publishers were proponents of that legislation because AB 1548 is the nation's first comprehensive measure that places new requirements on publishers, campus bookstores, faculty and public colleges and universities," Skelly said.

On the subject of new editions, she said the revision cycle is on average about four years, less for medical or technical texts which are updated more frequently. Revision cycles also change according to industry standards, such as accounting.

"Publishers will not invest the time or money to develop a new edition for which there is no demand," Skelly said.

Ultimately the criteria for choosing instructional materials for classes comes down to the decisions of individual departments, according to the bookstore.

"For each professor, it's their own decision," said Evelyn Bradley-Owens, secretary of the chemistry department.

She said if the professors see the need to update editions, they have that choice.

Last semester, Manahan used the newest edition for his environmental studies class. He said that generally when a new edition comes out, publishers stop printing the old one. If he wanted to use the online material, students who used the older editions would not have access.

Jane Watson, English professor, said she always takes cost into consideration because she remembers what it was like to be a student.

"I believe the majority of professors carefully consider textbook assignments because they have their students' interests at heart," Watson said.

Last semester she used the older edition of "Call to Write" because there were no significant differences worth switching over. The new edition was priced online at $60, the earlier edition, $5.

"Sometimes we have to ask the right questions as they have other motivations, obviously," she said.

Perhaps the edition summaries will create less questions for professors and more information about textbook content.

The law also stipulates the bookstore must post a copy of its pricing policy.

The Hornet Bookstore is already in compliance. The policy explains that the prices set are not arbitrary, but based on whether the book is net-priced, list-priced or used.

Used textbooks must be priced 75 percent or below the corresponding price, according to the policy.

Buybacks are what students are concerned about. They are based on condition, course material orders and overstock, according to the bookstore's website. Perhaps the more available information for professors will create a chain reaction. Fewer new editions

may mean more money on buybacks, which eventually may put more money back in student wallets.

The new law could help the bookstore's plan to assist departments and professors.

Parsons said that the bookstore currently sets an adoption date for choosing texts. Spring 2008 semester's deadline for texts was last October.

"We understand that the best way for students to save money on textbooks is to buy and sell used, and the goal of early adoptions is to facilitate our ability to get into the used market as soon as possible," Parsons said.

Early adoptions will mean the material selection process will begin sooner and professors can find out what is available earlier.

Chloe Daley can be reached at cdaley@statehornet.com

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