The Textbook Committee Tackles Book Prices

PLYMOUTH-On Tuesday, March 29 the PSU text book committee held a question and answer session in the Hub Fireplace Lounge to address the campus-wide concern of the high cost of textbooks.

The main strategy (thus far) of University Bookstore Manager, Jay Ahgharian, Barnes and Noble, and the textbook committee is to have as many used textbooks available to students as possible.

According to Ahgarian the campus bookstore has been actively trying to keep used books in stock. "We have had more used books than ever this semester, and we're going after it more and more every semester," he stated.

"Our biggest focus is to keep cost down by providing you with used books...we don't have a lot of economic leeway to be able to lower the cost of books by a percentage," stated Hil Estock the Vice President of Barnes and Noble Stores.

According to Barnes and Noble for every new 50 dollar textbook that is sold, $33.50 (67 percent) goes to the publisher, $4.50 (9 percent) goes to the author of the textbook, $1.25 (2.5 percent) goes to the freight company, $4.50 (9 percent) goes to the college or university towards costs of university operations, scholarships, etc. $5.00 (10 percent) goes to the bookstore employee's benefits, salaries, etc., and $1.25 (2.5 percent) goes to other miscellaneous expenses for running the store.

"We also give 35,000 dollars in scholarships to the university every year," stated Jen Cho the regional manager of Barnes and Noble bookstores.

Since the money from each textbook is already spread thin, the textbook committee as well as the bookstore urge professors to get their book orders in early. Early textbook orders will let Barnes and Noble know which books will be used again. If the bookstore has this information early, they will be able to give students 50 percent of the cost of the book back.

Currently the bookstore has received 10 percent of the book orders needed for next year. At this time of the year Barnes and Noble wants the bookstore to have 75 percent of the book orders in.

Estock urged students to be pro-active. In working with other universities he has found that letter campaigns are effective. All it takes for students to save money is for professors to contact the bookstore, or Barnes and Noble and tell them they are "re-adopting the book."

"We've found nationwide that you guys [the students] have more of a voice than we do," states Estock.

Many students find the Plymouth Book Exchange to be more cost effective when purchasing their books.

However, Estock attributes this to the different economics of their businesses. "I have a contract with the school that says I have to make sure every book is ordered." He stated that the bookstore downtown doesn't give as much back for books as the on-campus store does. "I'll challenge that. If you buy a hundred dollar book, we'll give you fifty [dollars] back and they'll give you forty. That ten dollars is where they make their margin," he states.

Barnes and Noble also plan on collaborating with the textbook committee to put the store online, so that students will be able have options when it comes time to get their books.

"I think it's foolish that they can't be lowered by a percentage overall, I mean it's not hard to get used books now," stated PSU Senior Chris Lawrie.

The textbook committee is planning on having a complementary bookmark that will be distributed with all book orders. The purpose of the bookmarks will be to inform students of how they can help lower the cost of books.