By Rhejean King-Johnson |Staff Writer| College textbook prices increase yearly. Textbooks have increased 73 percent since 2006, according to Student Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs). At CSUSB, a general education (GE) requirement is Communication (COMM) 120, Public Speaking. The necessary book “The Art of Public Speaking” has a variety of price options. At the Coyote Bookstore, it costs $199.50, $142.11 on Amazon and on Chegg, $103.99. There are ways for students to receive low cost for books; they can buy a used book or rent from websites such as Amazon, Chegg and Textbook Rentals. “The prices are a little bit outrageous for … [Read more...] about College textbook prices at all time high
textbooks
Textbook Expenses.
By Steffanie Martinez |Staff Writer| Finals week is here again. You’re probably looking around realizing you’ve spent hundreds of dollars on all these textbooks you didn’t once open. All of this could have been avoided had our professors researched the “open educational resources” alternative. I might have been able to get a quality text book from $10-$40 in comparison to the textbook average that begins at $60 all the way up to $200. Open textbooks are written with the understanding that they will be free to print or read online. It is a beneficial option that has been proven to work at some universities; it would be a great alternative for schools because it would save … [Read more...] about Textbook Expenses.
Pointers for student budgeting
By Mark Mascetti |Staff Writer| Students often struggle financially with the extra financial burden of books, food, parking permits and gasoline. Students at four-year public universities spend on average $1,200 per year on textbooks, according to collegeboard.org. However, there are small steps students can take to save money. I would recommend switching to online and e-book edition textbooks as they are becoming more popular and cheaper in comparison to the traditional versions. “I like Kindle books because they are a lot more affordable and you can rent them for only a few months at a time and that’s all you have to pay for,” said Sondra Riehart, a CSUSB public … [Read more...] about Pointers for student budgeting
How to save on textbooks
By Erica Wong |Staff Writer| With textbooks as high as $300, an increasing number of students are resorting to other methods. In a survey conducted by Iota Phi Theta, 152 out of 170 CSUSB students believe textbook prices are too high. When asked if book prices should be lowered, CSUSB senior Bianca Velasco said, “Definitely!” with no hesitation, further stressing that, “Books are too expensive, they burn a hole in my pocket!” Buying expensive books “causes a financial burden on students that are already worried about other things,” said Christina Estrella, a Cal Poly Pomona student. “Most students these days do not receive enough financial aid or other money to purchase the necessary … [Read more...] about How to save on textbooks
Textbooks are Too Expensive
By Suu Elen Manzano| Staff Writer| I have yet to meet a student who, when asked, agreed with the price of textbooks. That’s because textbooks are just way too expensive. Textbook prices have increased at a rate significantly outpacing that of the median household income, according to the California State Auditor report, on average students may spend as much as $1,815 on required textbooks. I would like to say I am shocked, but frankly I am hit by this hard reality at the start of every quarter. “I think everything in the bookstore is extremely expensive,” said Ron Shviro, who rents textbooks through the Coyote Bookstore. I share this same sentiment, its hard to keep up with … [Read more...] about Textbooks are Too Expensive
Print textbooks are still the way to go
By Aunjolay Lambert |Staff Writer| Call me old fashioned, but textbooks have been a part of my learning for years, and I refuse to switch from textbooks to eBooks. The first time a professor ever asked me to purchase an eBook I dropped the class. For me not having a physical book to read scared me. It’s no secret that digital textbooks have started to take over college campuses. Now over 66 percent of U.S. public libraries are offering eBooks, causing more people to indulge in digital reading. “I would rather use eBooks because they’re easier to read and I save almost fifty dollars on each book a quarter,” said student Courtnee Allen. Both eBooks and textbooks have pros and cons to … [Read more...] about Print textbooks are still the way to go
Save money on books the old fashioned way
By Dominique Sterling |Staff Writer| There are many ways that we can make and save money when buying textbooks, but the most practical and economical choice is still to buy older editions of your books online. The end of the quarter approaching presents the opportunity for students to acquire some extra money. Book buyback programs allow students to get rid of their used textbooks for cash or gift card values. Nowadays there are a few options for students in textbooks, digital textbooks and rentals. All have their benefits, but in my opinion the earlier editions of the same textbook are a better choice. Older editions allow you to learn essentially the same information at a cheaper … [Read more...] about Save money on books the old fashioned way
Textbooks face evolution
By Melissa Benton |Staff Writer| More than 5,000 eTextbooks are to be made available in the fall at CSUSB. CSUSB will launch the use of eTextbooks, or digital rental textbooks. These will be offered at a discounted price of up to 60 percent less than the price of purchasing a new printed version of the same text. The Coyote Bookstore has yet to determine which classes will utilize the eTextbooks. The eTextbooks and other digital materials will be available through desktops, laptops, tablets, e-readers and other various devices. They will be able to be accessed online and offline, and will offer other capabilities such as highlighting and note-taking. This upcoming spring, … [Read more...] about Textbooks face evolution