Ben Ball

Students Go to School on Textbook Rentals

August 24, 2010

FROM RETAILWIRE:
Paying for a college education is expensive enough, so why not look to cut costs wherever possible? That appears to be the motivation driving an increase in textbook rentals on campuses across the U.S. Do you see textbook rentals growing?      [more...]

I share Richards' situation with current students and recent grads, though I am not a professor. The vast majority of class notes, supplemental reading and other communication my students receive is already electronic. The time for an electronic text book model is definitely here.

But electronic delivery alone will not address one of the other big cost drivers--professors who require students to buy their own book (latest edition of course) for the class. And who revise the "Forward" or something else minor once a year to make sure the new book sales revenue (and royalties) keep coming.