OMAHA, Neb., Aug. 11 /EMWNews/ -- The Used Textbook Association

announced today the results of a survey, done in collaboration with

Collegiate Research Services of NACS, to measure the financial impact of a

robust used textbook program on students and college stores.



    "As textbook prices have continued to rise, so has the outcry of

concern from students and parents. Students have responded to the issue of

textbook affordability by purchasing used textbooks," said Eunice Clark,

Executive Director, Used Textbook Association. "Used textbooks are an

economical solution to the rising cost of textbooks but we believed it was

important to quantify the financial value used textbooks provide students."



    Ten bookstores -- all institutional stores at 4-year schools -- were

selected to participate in the research project. Each submitted their

bookstore's top 300 titles based on units sold in Fall 2007. This resulted

in 1,739 unique titles used to compile the data. The study reviewed the

financial impact of new books versus used books, new editions, bundles and

book buys.



    Key Findings



    -- The average student is paying approximately 17 percent of his/her

annual textbook bill to support the increased frequency of new editions and

bundles which leads to unnecessary obsolescence. The initial increased cost

of these products, coupled with the fact that they reduce the supply of

used books, which students prefer to buy, results in an additional expense

for students.



    -- Approximately 51 million new individual textbooks are sold annually

in college bookstores with students paying a total premium of about $816

million.



    -- Students pay a $228 million premium for new edition textbooks each

year.



    -- Students pay a premium of $342 million on new bundles, versus

purchasing just a textbook.



    -- For every 10 percent increase in units bought back for use on

campus, the total student benefit in buyback dollars would be about $58

million.



    Clark continued: "Students prefer used textbooks by a margin of two to

one and it's no surprise when you evaluate the cost of new versus used

textbooks. High quality textbooks are important to ensure students receive

a quality education -- we're not advocating compromising quality. However,

we are advocating responsibility of the publishers to ensure that only

reasonable new editions are brought to market; limiting unnecessary bundles

and selling bundled items separately; and reducing built in obsolescence."



    Used Textbook Association



    The Used Textbook Association was formed in 2006 to advocate the role

and value of used textbooks in the marketplace and in turn, increase the

supply of used textbooks available to students. The Association works to

educate students and faculty members on the buy-back process, improve the

rate of early adoptions by faculty members, and ensure textbook

merchandising practices are appropriate and meeting the goals of higher

learning. http://www.usedtextbookassociation.org