The Textbook Transparency Act was signed by the governor and became effective in August 2008. Students feeling the crunch of expensive textbooks designed the bill that is now law.
The new law has three parts, all intended to benefit students.
The first part requires publishers to supply instructors with pricing information for new books and to offer information about other options. These options could include older editions and similar books that may cost less.
Greg Nikes, manager of the Barnes and Noble Bookstore in Blum Union, is glad to see the change.
“As a bookstore, I’m all for saving the students money,” Nikes said.
The second part of the law demands that publishers break bundles so books are available to purchase separately. Many books have only been available bundled with other items such as CDs, magazines and web site access.
Nikes explained how he has tried to avoid buying bundles when the extra items were not necessary.
“Any time a textbook can be used alone, without any other items, often times we can save students’ money by ordering used copies,” Nikes said. “That’s something bookstores definitely favor.”
The unbundling will be the first thing students statewide will notice by possibly saving money on books.
The third part allows students to use excess financial aid money to purchase textbooks in the university bookstore. Western is already doing this with book vouchers.
Jason Youngkeit, assistant professor of Spanish, is in favor of the changes the new law brings.
“Yeah, I think that’s fair because in this day and age with students being able to buy things off the internet and other places, I think that it’s advantageous to the students because it not only can save them money, but it promotes the free market ,” Youngkeit said.
Textbooks are available online; however, the majority of students still use the bookstore. Nikes will continue to save students’ money whenever possible by selling used books when available.
Students at Western have been reaping the benefits of the new law, at least two parts of it, before it was law. Western demonstrates concerns for students’ financial well-being by implementing the tools available: selling used books when possible and issuing book vouchers.
Sharon Jowels, a freshman in criminal justice, believes the law will ease the burden for students and instructors.
“I think it’s an excellent idea because I think most instructors are concerned with the student’s well-being and they know that a financial burden can be a distraction from learning,” Jowels said.
The three parts of the law are all beneficial to students, because students fed up with outrageous book prices designed it.