The average amount Maryland students spend per year on textbooks: $1,100. The portion textbook costs represent in the total academic fees paid by students at four-year colleges: one-quarter. Number of options in College Park where students can sell their used textbooks: three. Number of places university students can sell back their textbooks without a “middle-man” making a profit: zero.
The lack of competition in the area textbook industry drives up the prices of textbooks for students who can little afford the additional cost. This problem undoubtedly needs to be addressed, but the question is how we can most effectively go about it. I remain convinced that there is much we can do right here on the campus, where we have the greatest control over means of bettering the situation.
I propose we start an online forum for students to exchange textbooks, either for money or for trade. It would work much the way Craigslist does. Basically, if you have taken a class and wish to sell your book(s), you can post them on the forum and another interested student taking the class for the following semester can contact you to meet and make an exchange. This way we control the market.
The more options we have to buy and sell books, the better it is for students. Those who prefer the convenience of purchasing from one of the bookstores can still use those services. However, the online book exchange would provide another choice for those interested in more options. Establishing this exchange is a clear win for students. It increases competition by increasing the ways by which a student can sell and buy books. Best of all, the more students who utilize it, the more we all save.
The online forum will allow students the opportunity to know a fellow student wants to buy or sell a book, arrange to meet up at a mutually convenient place and determine whether or not they want to make the exchange. This gives them the discretion to agree on a fair deal for both parties. If they meet and choose not to proceed with the transaction, they can simply go to one of the three already-existing options without losing anything besides a few minutes of their time. However, the increased option creates an alternative that will force the book stores to improve their processes or prices, causing students to benefit either way.
Some people might see this idea and think it serves the same purpose as the already-existing Bookholders.com business. However, it is important to understand this is quite different: Bookholders.com makes a profit from students. An online book exchange saves us money by keeping all of the value from the transaction with students, giving nothing to a middleman. Also, many books sold by students on this campus are then sold online by Bookholders.com on websites such as Half.com and Amazon.com. This means our students are losing out on the opportunity to buy used books, and we’re only receiving partial benefits from this system.
I have worked with students at other universities who have successfully brought online book exchanges to their campuses. This idea is not a new concept. It is used successfully at many other universities around the country, including the University of Kentucky and the University of South Carolina. U.S. PIRG, the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups, has even set one up for each of its member chapters, though its lack of advertising and overall lack of user-friendliness are drawbacks.
By working with students from these schools and using some already proven ideas, we will be able to bring effective software to campus at virtually no cost. Essentially, sufficient advertising to make students aware and easy accessibility are all we need in order for this initiative to be successful. Within a short time, we could have a highly functional online forum to exchange books.
Let’s take back control of the textbook market. Let’s improve the textbook problem ourselves right here. Let’s start an online book exchange. It’s easy, it’s effective, and I know how to do it.
Andrew Friedson is director of governmental affairs for the SGA. He can be reached at friedson.andrew@gmail.com.
