A student's problems with the bookstore are as much a part of the AU experience as TDR or late night political throwdowns. Still, this year these problems seem to leave even the most enthusiastic student exasperated as textbook sales continue to increase.
Thankfully there seems to be some help on the way, (emphasis on some). Congress passed an extension of the Higher Education Act last month that will eventually require publishers to sell textbooks separately from the costly supplemental CDs. The law would also require that professors notify students before classes start about what books they will need for the class. This will allow students to bargain hunt for books online and give them a chance to fight the exorbitant 6.2 percent textbook inflation rate.
It is also good to see that professors are doing their part to reduce costs by putting more reading assignments onto the "E-Reserve" section of Blackboard. This, coupled with the library's new effort to bring Amazon Kindle digital book devices, should help force the campus bookstore to get serious about keeping costs down.
While these developments will save everyone a little bit of money it is still necessary for Congress and the campus bookstore to take more action. Students are already dishing out thousands of dollars in college expenses. Another $500 for books is more than some can handle. Doing away with new editions of textbooks that are no different from the old (except that they are more expensive) and a fairer sellback system, for instance, would be two very welcome and effective improvements.
