Be Book Smart: Frequently Asked Questions

Why do textbooks cost so much right now?
The textbook market is not a normal market because the people who pick the books (the instructors) are not the ones paying for them (the students). Instructors focus on content and merit when selecting a textbook, and rightly so, but this means that publishers may be under little pressure to keep prices low.

Of course, many publishers understand this dynamic and exploit it.  Questionable gimmicks and aggressive marketing campaigns add further to the overall price of books.  Currently, in the textbook market, competition actually increases the price for consumers!

To make matters worse, many publishers change editions very frequently, even in stable subjects like introductory calculus. These unnecessary changes effectively disrupt the used-books market and force students and instructors to buy new texts.  

The price of everything goes up over time; why should textbooks be any different?
Yes, the price of many commodities goes up over time, and textbooks are no exception.  However, due to the unique nature of the textbook market, the price of textbooks has been increasing at a rate that greatly outpaces inflation (at an average of 280%), even when little to no new content is added. 

What can we realistically expect in terms of reduced textbook prices?
This is a relatively new movement, and it may take years to change the culture of the textbook market.  But even in the short term, a little change can go a long way:  if one single instructor switches from a $150 textbook to a $100 textbook in a 200-student class, the student population will have saved $10,000.  The more we work together on this, the more quickly we’ll start seeing results.  

If it really is possible to pressure publishers to lower prices, why is action only being taken now? Why was this not done before?
Your Students’ Union has been working together with your Bookstore for years to lower the costs of academic materials.  But to see more drastic change, the national textbook market needs to be addressed, and this movement is still relatively new.
Over the last year, your Students’ Union and Bookstore have been working to reduce the cost of materials by initiating a national collaboration effort.
The Canadian Roundtable on Academic Materials (CRAM) was established in early 2008 to find solutions to escalating textbook costs.  Post-secondary institutes from across Canada have joined in this exchange of ideas to combat rising prices.

Are there any alternatives to expensive textbooks?
Online resources are increasingly popular, and there is a growing movement for alternative sources, such as Open Access Publishing.

What is Open Access Publishing?
Open Access Publishing is best explained by the BBB definition, which outlines that Open Access materials should be distributed free of charge and that there should be no permission barriers on the use or redistribution of the published material, except for attribution of the original author. Check our resources page for more info.

As an instructor, I want to ensure that the materials I use in my class are of the highest quality. How can I ensure that my students do not have to pay too much for textbooks, without compromising the integrity of my course?
Please view our Instructors page for tips, tricks and questions to ask yourself when selecting your materials.

As a student, I can’t wait for prices do go down.  How can I save money now?
There are a few things you can do to help yourself save money on textbooks right now.  Try purchasing used books instead of new, and check with your instructor to see if older editions of the textbook are close enough to the new edition for you to get the same information.  You can also try sharing books with friends who are taking the same course and using the reserve textbooks from the library.  

What can I do to convince my instructors to pick less expensive academic materials?
Email bebooksmart@ussu.ca to volunteer to meet with instructors.  We will provide you with the necessary materials and training to ensure dialogue remains respectful, constructive, and open.

Where can I find more information?
Check out our resources page for information on the campaign, as well as articles and background information regarding the cost of academic materials and the emergence of alternative sources.

This is a great idea! What can I do to help?
Spread the word!  Pass on your brochure or bookmark to another student, and tell others about our website.  If you’re willing to do more, email bebooksmart@ussu.ca to volunteer with our campaign.