George Street Observer Opinion Article

What’s the deal with textbooks?
The background information you may not know

As a College of Charleston student, I have spent a few thousand on school textbooks in the last three years. My freshman year, my family, unknowingly of the loopholes of the internet bookstores, purchased all of my books from the campus bookstore for a shocking $800. At times I have been required to purchase as many as seven books for one class, only to be told at the end of the semester that little or none of them are being bought back since newer editions have been printed. Buying my textbooks this semester, I wondered why they cost so much, where the money goes, and why doesn’t the campus just cut out the middle man (the bookstore) and supply students with books like in middle and high schools?

Using my own textbook purchases as an average example, a fifteen hour or full time student pays around $200 a semester for textbooks. Taking a moment to do the math, anyone would realize that the school makes a ton of money from the bookstore purchases. Who determines the cost of textbooks is generally the publishers but why prices vary from store to internet store specifically is unknown. Barns and Noble Bookstore Manager Rebecca Gray notes, “In addition to all aspects of textbooks, we provide school supplies, dorm room supplies, gift items, school spirit clothing and a general reading section (for the students).”

But where does the money from those purchases go? “The Bookstore has been involved in charitable organizations in the Charleston community and we contribute to the College of Charleston's scholarship and athletic programs,” Gray says. I suppose if students wanted their money to go anywhere it would be back into the school they attend. Orientation programs, graduation, the College Reads program, homecoming, family weekend, student government and admissions events are all partially, if not fully, funded by money the bookstore brings in.

I personally feel that since all college students are now paying for their education, unlike public high schools, some items, such as textbooks, should be included with the tuition. It would be pretty simple for the bookstore to act as a supervisor in the distribution of textbooks at the start of the semester according to an individual’s class schedule and collect them at the end, instead of buying them back. If students don’t return the books, they’d be charged a credit against the school to be paid back before graduation. Though the bookstore has returned “roughly $600,000 in cash” to CofC students in the last two buy-back cycles according to Gray, many books were denied purchase because they weren’t on the retail buyback program which holds a list from professors requesting a certain book for their class the next semester. Gray mentions that she requests professors reuse older editions and send in their list as soon as possible to help the process.

The new Barnes and Noble bookstore at CofC has added a rental program to the College that is in some cases cheaper than renting or buying online. Rentals from any location are a student’s best friend because they cost less and avoid the process of selling books back. “This has proven to be a very popular option with our students,” Gray says.

Amanda Graham - Opinions Columnist