A textbook example of being ripped off

Textbooks are, understandably, on most students' minds at this time of year. Whether we are staggering under the weight of them, staring skeptically at them or happily pawing through our new collections, course books are an unavoidable part of life at IU. They also increase financial strain for students.\nWhile a certain amount of inflation in book prices is to be expected, the sharp and steep uptick in book costs per semester is something that needs to be scrutinized and dealt with. We feel soaring book costs may, unfortunately, convince some students to skimp or avoid altogether getting (and reading) books. What is particularly tragic is it's not altogether necessary that book prices be this high.\nMany options in controlling textbook prices are available to the University, as well as to the faculty that assign the books in the first place. Textbook rental is an idea already used at some universities and colleges; it allows students who have no desire to own the books after the course's completion to avoid unnecessary financial strain. Textbook bundling, which is the process of including various secondary and seldom-used products such as CDs, is also something that could be monitored. This could easily be tackled by using older textbook versions that lack the cost-producing add-ons because textbooks don't really change much from edition to edition. \nThe use of e-Reserves is also an option, especially when only portions of a text are desired for class use. The growing popularity of e-Reserves stands as a clear testament to their usefulness. \nThere is also the need to be prudent when developing reading lists for classes. Many students have had the experience of being assigned a book for a class and then never being asked or required to read it. It may be a rare occurrence, but keeping reading lists pruned and up-to-date with the current version of the class being taught would be of immense benefit to students who are struggling to purchase books on a limited budget. \nAlso important is the need to ensure the books provide a broad look at the subject being studied. Some students have complained in the past about professors assigning books that only discuss a limited viewpoint on a given matter, or are only written by the professor. While there is certainly great merit in having an intimate familiarity with a book that comes from writing it, we feel it is equally important to make sure an "educational tunnel-vision" does not occur by narrowing the scope of opinion too greatly.\nTextbooks are an inevitable part of student life, but that does not mean the current situation IU students find themselves in is the only, or even best, of all possible scenarios. We urge University faculty and administration to keep the students' needs in mind when they again consider textbooks next semester.