4 of 8

Yes

Write now Article Tools

Remember how books were distributed in grammar school? Each new school season brought out the textbooks the class would be using. It was a mixed lot - some were in poor, fair, good, and excellent condition. You hoped you would get one of the best ones, but they were handed out randomly and you took what you got. Inside the cover, you would rate the book in a small chart. Brand new was "excellent," used a year or two was probably "good." "Average" meant still quite usable, below average condition was ranked as "fair." The ones ranked "poor" were usually a real mess and ready to drop some pages; it had been a well-used source of student knowledge for many years.

We learned the value of the used textbook early on in life. If we happened to get a book that was about to disintegrate, we still knew the content was the same and we could manage. Of course, if it began dropping pages, we could probably get a different book from the leftovers, and we'd just pick the least book we could find. Our teachers always said next year there would be new books - but those would be for her next year's class.

How great it was to BE the first class to use a textbook when it was brand new! We went through all the rituals of how to open it without damaging it, and if you recall, new books had a great aroma. Then we'd get to fill in the little chart in the front that had been stamped in by the teacher. This book was in "Excellent" condition, and when we wrote our names in the front along with the condition of the book, we knew we had a responsibility to keep it that way all year. So began the use and recycling of the textbook.

Today, textbooks are usually brand new for colleges and universities, since many students prefer to keep their books for future reference instead of participating in the "buy back" programs popular with many institutes of higher learning. Textbooks are very expensive. The cost of undergraduate textbooks is usually between $100 and $200, some including a CD or additional pamphlet for additional information or a special message. Some universities offer books that are specially published for their school, so buying the used book from eBay or Amazon will most likely lack the special information that was originally packaged for students of a particular school.

Often, universities and colleges will designate a place within the school where students can post ads looking for used textbooks for their upcoming classes. They can't or don't want to pay full price for a textbook.

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Are used textbooks the solution to the high cost of textbooks??
We want to hear your view. Write now!