Dave,
I put books on reserve because in my college community (community college)
there are students who may not be able to afford some of the $100.00+ texts
they must buy for their classes. Especially when a book is in a new edition,
students may not even have an option to buy the used versions. Some textbook
companies will not give me copies to put on reserve, because they feel it
will eat into their profits. I tell my students that they really should buy
their books, but let them know about the reserve copies anyway. Most
students in my experience prefer to own their books.
I understand that students may violate copy laws by copying sections,
however, there are many other rules that we as instructors need to trust that
students are not violating. I must trust that they won't do this.
Since I was a graduate student my perception has been that textbooks cost way
more than the expenses involved in their production. I felt when I had to
shell out $40.00 for a 200 page paperback that I was being exploited. 500
page paperbacks that I bought for leisure reading cost under a sawbuck - so I
would ask myself "What gives?" I guess I have lost my sympathy for college
bookstores and the textbook companies they deal with.
So, I will continue to advise my students of varsitybooks, used book stores,
and reserve books when available. There is a reason these business arose.
If college bookstores and textbook companies want to stay competitive,
perhaps they will need to make their prices competitive too.
Nancy Melucci
Behavioral and Social Sciences
El Camino College
Torrance, CA
