Richard Seesel

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...]

As the parent of two college students and a recent grad, I can certainly see the merits of innovative business models designed to drive down the exorbitant cost of new textbooks. And as a college-level instructor, I also encourage my students to find cost-effective ways to study the textbook that I use. (Not reading it isn't an option.) Textbook rentals are just one option, along with several online retailers (Amazon and others) who sell new and used texts at a discount. Perhaps the biggest trend to watch for is the growing popularity of e-versions, which offer not only significant savings but also the portability of a laptop, iPad or e-reader. The "cash cow" of traditional (and overpriced) textbooks is a threatened business model, and none too soon.