University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

The cost of textbooks is of concern not only to students, but also to instructors, administrators, publishers, authors, librarians, bookstores and parents. Escalating prices threaten the affordability and accessibility of higher education at UB and across the country. The goal of this session is to increase awareness of the rapidly-evolving dynamics of today’s textbook market. In addition to the cost of a textbook, a wide array of other factors can now be taken into account when making decisions about textbooks: format (print or electronic), access (rent or buy), condition (new or used), pricing model (traditional or open access), and more. This session will clarify the available options, while focusing on the issue of textbook affordability