Students voice their concerns about unfair textbook prices daily. On Tuesday night, February 6, the Campus Bookstore held a forum in the Fireplace Lounge. Students finally had their chance to express their opinions and ask questions to the Vice President of Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, Hil Estock. Only four students attended.
Estock explained the reasons why textbooks cost so much. Though many students blame Barnes & Noble because they are the ones that issue the books, it is really the publishing companies’ fault that textbooks are expensive, according to Estock.
Trevor Chandler, a Student Senator, had many questions. He asked Estock how much influence Barnes & Noble has with publishing companies. Estock replied, “We don’t have much. Publishing companies have been consolidating recently; there are vewer companies than ever before.”
Many students would agree that not only is it bad that they have to purchase the books in the first place, but we aren’t receiving a great percentage back when we return them. This is because publishing companies are coming out with newer editions as quick as one semester to the next. One of PSU’s own faculty members, Robin Peters, attended the forum as well. She explained the different alternatives that other faculty members can do to help out on book spending. One was to order the textbooks in a few chapters at a time (flex chapters) or in black and white editions.
Barnes & Noble are also trying to increase their used book rates. Estock ended the forum by saying that, “We want to satisfy both the faculty and students.”
He is also up for any suggestions and would love to hear students questions and concerns. Estock can be contacted at hestock@bncollege.com.