Dear Editor,
The recent article by Lindsay Barrs about textbook prices failed to provide an accurate understanding of the changing nature of today’s college textbooks. To help every student succeed, publishers offer thousands of options for textbooks and instructional tools at a wide range of prices. This variety allows faculty and students to use course materials that best suit to their needs. Tuition and student fees have increased at a faster rate than the average new textbook price. According to Student Monitor, an independent student research service, the average college student spent $644 on textbooks during the 2005 – 2006 academic year, a cost that has remained generally steady over the past three years. A majority of instructors are using new teaching materials, such as CDs, online self-assessment tests, interactive learning tools and online homework. According to one survey, 75 percent of professors require or recommend that students use textbooks with these types of supplementary materials. As the cost of higher education continues to escalate, America’s publishers are helping students get the most out of their tuition dollar by helping them succeed. Contrary to the image created by your article, today’s college textbooks may be the best long-term investment a student can make.
Stacy Scarazzo Assistant Director for Higher Education Association of American Publishers
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