2008 Woodie Awards
RE: "Textbook prices ... " 4/28
Stcay S. Skelly, Director for Higher Education, Association of American Publishers
Issue date: 5/5/08 Section: Letters to the editor
The story does not accurately describe the textbook market. Some believe faculty members are kept in the dark about textbook prices, but publishers work regularly with faculty to provide extensive information about textbook pricing and options. This information is readily available directly from publishers, bookstores and online sources.
It is also important to note that faculty, not publishers, determine when a new revision is necessary and when a textbook is "bundled." Faculty members choose the materials that will best help their students, and publishers deliver it to them as ordered. As for new editions, the average length of time between new editions is four years, a number that has remained constant for the last 10 years. For more information, please visit www.textbookfacts.org.
It is also important to note that faculty, not publishers, determine when a new revision is necessary and when a textbook is "bundled." Faculty members choose the materials that will best help their students, and publishers deliver it to them as ordered. As for new editions, the average length of time between new editions is four years, a number that has remained constant for the last 10 years. For more information, please visit www.textbookfacts.org.
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