Why aren't e-textbooks selling?

Parent Cafe
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<p>
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Tell college students they can save 50 percent on a textbook, and you've got their full attention.</p>

<p>For that matter, you have their parents' full attention, too.</p>

<p>It's been a year since most U.S. campus bookstores began offering downloadable versions of some textbooks, ranging between 40 percent and 50 percent less than the cost of the tangible version.</p>

<p>But as the spring semester kicks off on Florida college campuses, these cheaper e-books are not flying off the cyber shelves. Industry insiders point to several reasons: lack of knowledge, poor marketing and few choices.</p>

<p>In an age in which students are more tech savvy than ever before, publishers say they are preparing for an e-textbook craze and are investing in creating electronic versions. Yet it seems publishers are not sure what will trigger demand for these e-textbooks, and they continue to test the waters.</p>

<p>''Publishers are having a hard time figuring out what they need to do,'' said Bill McKenna, director of digital products at Follett, a company that operates more than 700 college bookstores, including the University of Miami Bookstore. Follett offers about 1,000 titles in digital form, but sales have been meager.</p>

<p>College textbook sales are a $6.3 billion-a-year business, according to the National Association of College Stores. The cost of books and supplies for the 2005-06 academic year ranged from $801 to $904 per student.</p>

<p>Only about 10 textbooks with digital versions are assigned in classes at FIU, and university spokeswoman Lindsay Oesch said digital textbooks have not received much attention since they started offering them about a year ago.</p>

<p>FIU is one of 15 Florida college bookstores operated by Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, which offers downloadable titles from MBS Direct. MBS started its Universal Digital Textbook program in August 2005 with only 136 digital textbook titles and four publishers. The program has grown to include about 1,300 titles from 10 publishers, but that's only a sliver of the estimated 125,000 textbook titles available.</p>

<p>TOO EARLY TO TELL</p>

<p>Jade Roth, vice president of books at Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, said digital textbook sales make up less than 2 percent of their total text sales, but it's too early to analyze the market, she said.</p>

<p>''We want to get another term under our belt,'' she said. ``We'll get much better information this time around.''

At a majority of bookstores, students need to go online to purchase e-textbooks, so some textbook providers are coming up with ideas to boost in-store sales. MBS is working with bookstores to allow students to purchase the digital version in the store and receive a code to download it online to their computer later, said Kevin McKiernan, director of business development at MBS Direct. The idea is that in-store purchases are more attractive for students who use financial aid to buy books.

Even if sales are not immediately taking off, publishers will keep producing digital versions.

''I think publishers are begining to feel that they need to have all of their titles in some sort of electronic form, so when an opportunity comes up, they can act on it quickly,'' McKiernan said. ``Everyone is kind of holding their breath for an evolutionary reader.''

Publishers use different software programs, called readers, to view the digital pages; some are using .pdf files for Adobe Reader, others are using .xml to view online. This adds to the complications of selling the concept to students.

The International Digital Publishing Forum is trying to push for standards in digital publishing, and executive director Nick Bogaty wants to make file extention .ops to digital books what .mp3 is to music.

''It certainly is a lot more attractive to a consumer to have one interoperable file format.'' Bogaty said. ``I think it's really early to be saying whether it's a success or not, but certainly with these standards it'll improve the chances significantly.''...

'When it comes to the textbook market . . . they are expensive, hard to make and then you have to re-version them every few years,'' Katz said. ``Put that all together, and digital is a really powerful solution for the industry. But it'll only be important if we can get the consumer -- and professors -- to realize how really great that is.''

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<p><a href="http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/16522217.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/16522217.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Because reading long stretches of text on a computer screen is tedious and hard on the eyes -- that's why.</p>

<p>At work if I have a document or e-mail over about two pages long, I print it out to read it. An e-textbook would never work for me.</p>

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<p>I think I can guess why it's not catching on--.pdfs and similar formats are pretty inflexible and just generally a major pain in the you-know-where. Some free advice to the companies: make it searchable and interactive! Being able to search for a term in a chapter, or in the whole book, would make a big difference to me, as would being able to highlight, underline, or scribble in the (metaphorical) margins. </p>

<p>Also, how are they preventing piracy? It wouldn't be that hard to either e-mail or print (colleges with free printing, watch out) the whole textbook to a friend.</p>

4

<p>"Being able to search for a term in a chapter, or in the whole book, would make a big difference to me, as would being able to highlight, underline, or scribble in the (metaphorical) margins."</p>

<p>^I think that would make these books popular very fast.</p>

<p>I also think it's more difficult to read on a computer, but I guess you could zoom in as much as you like, so it's not that bad.</p>

<p>My daughter had to read a 400 page $80 book recently that was available free on the internet in non-printable PDF format (I didn't know such format existed before...) Needless to say, she read it on the computer...</p>

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<p>In my classes, we need to have a written copy of the reading in class. It's easier with a hard copy to read for long periods of time, highlight, take notes in the margins, read anywhere at anytime, etc. Most students can find cheaper copies of the books by using sites like Amazon, buying used copies from bookstores, or buying used copies from friends.</p>

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<p>While I much prefer to curl up with the traditional book format - so much of the pleasure and practicality of reading is connected to the book as a tangible object - I am drawn toward the convenience and access of the e-book format. The number of e-books available from major university presses, even in the public domain, these days is growing exponentially, or so it seems anyway. Since I don't have easy access to well-stocked bookstores or libraries, access is the major draw for me rather than saving a buck. I either read online or, if possible, print out the text. Not as neat or gratifying as reading a properly bound copy on good paper but a boon nonetheless.</p>

<p>My college sophomore S's basic strategy seems to be to avoid the university bookstore at all costs. So far, I have never heard him mention the e-text option. At the u-store, used copies are in short supply because most of the students circulate used textbooks on an informal internal campus network - either sharing, selling, or even renting out books. Most of the time this truck and barter system works well - and word gets out quickly if the new pricey editions on sale offer only minor changes from the ones already in circulation on campus so students just recycle the older books among themselves. That said, I do think that e-textbooks ought to get out there and grab a better market share in those fields in which the texts are constantly revised and updated - which brings to mind another reason why this format hasn't taken off - it may well be that all too often those hefty, pricey textbooks just stay on the shelf since most students consider them to be merely supplementary materials anyway. As the article in the Miami Herald points out `Put that all together, and digital is a really powerful solution for the industry. But it'll only be important if we can get the consumer -- and professors -- to realize how really great that is.''</p>

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<p>Certain readings need to be brought to class for discussion, so that the student can say, "on p. xxx, the author says that..." this could be solved by having students print out relevant excerpts. Printers are very cheap nowadays.</p>

<p>T=textbooks, if done well, have the potential of containing far more information than conventional books, through links that do not clutter up the main texts but can be clicked on for additional information (as in the wikipedia format) They should also make revisions easier and cheaper.</p>

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<p>Easier to carry a "real book" into the bathroom, around campus and onto an airplane for reading :)</p>

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<p>I think that this is one of those technologies that will take off with the "next generation" of students - those that are still in middle school. Particularly as e-book reader technology improves (so that you can take a hand-held into the bathroom).</p>

<p>I also hope that high schools will begin considering e-book versions of their textbooks, so that kids don't have to walk around with 35-40 pounds of books on their backs! Keep one set in the classroom for classroom work and let the kids use the e-books at home. What those backpacks do to kids' posture, alignment and spine health is criminal!</p>

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<p>My 2 HS students weren't issued science textbooks this year. Instead, they received a password for an online textbook.</p>

<p>H and I have found it much harder to work with -- especially when trying to answer a specific question. Flipping through a chapter or section, skimming quickly, is so much easier with paper books. Also, 2 people can look at a paper page at the same time while sitting at a table. Swiveling the laptop is much more cumbersome.</p>

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<p>I am drawn toward the convenience and access of the e-book format</p>

<p>I like books
My 16 yr old uses sticky notes to flip through easily when she needs to return the book relatively undamaged- my older D attended a private school where books were just added to to tuition- so she highlighted at will.
Books are still "relatively" cheap-( we did find lots used at Powells though) and while I do not have any more room in my house for books I still buy them!</p>

<p>However- I do have a palm pilot and while I don't read books ( and long articles I often print out) on my computer ( although I could) I do download books for reading easily while traveling- its pretty cool to not only have my address book & calendar & financial database in a small purse but also several other books to choose from like Naked by David Sedaris- Cannery Row/Steinbeck or Isabel Allende.<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>But I think things are getting carried away. For instance my H builds airplanes- he makes specialized parts, oftentimes designing & building the tools needed to make the parts before hand.</p>

<p>It can't be emphasized enough that H is just not comfortable with "computers". I bought my first 18 years ago, because I thought if we had one at home, he would be more comfortable with them at work. he isn't.
He can see what needs to be done with a tool or part by looking at it. You can't see why the computer program isn't doing what you want visually ( unless you read code)
They don't give him plans anymore. He has a laptop on his workbench and he is just supposed to access the screen. There is a distinct disadvantage. He can't see the whole thing at once & it is difficult to make notes on the plans themselves ,not to mention read them.</p>

<p>I won't even go into how big of a stress that seems to be everytime a blueprint is needed.
I think even if * I was * doing that job, I would prefer to have the blueprint in my hands and not on a screen. It actually seems pretty dumb to me to have laptops on the workbenches- so much dust and risk of damage?
WHile e-texts are certainly much cheaper- I think they are not as accessible for a large portion of the population who finds it necessary to hold something in their hands. I don't think that is necessarily a tech issue but a learning style one</p>

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<p>Loyola's student newspaper "The Phoenix" recently printed a rather long information- packed article on the costs of new and used textbook, university bookstore sales and profits, and the limited e-textbook market.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Parents say to hit the books, but how much do those books hit the bank? It's the start of second semester and that primarily means scrounging for "cheap" textbooks...</p>

<p>According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), which is a nonpartisan agency that works for Congress to investigate how the federal government spends tax dollars, textbook prices have increased at twice the rate of general inflation since 1986...</p>

<p>Based on the results of the National Association of College Stores (NACS) the 2005- '06 academic year resulted in an average cost of textbooks and supplies per student falling in the range of $800-$900 per year. This does not even include the cost of labs that many students in the Loyola community have to deal with if they are pre-med/ pre-professional.</p>

<p>The students have to pay for frequent revisions of textbooks, production costs, bundling and much more... </p>

<p>Students purchase the books because the professor, department or state made that exact version a requirement for the class. One of the worst possible situations for students is to purchase an expensive book and then find out they will only be using it very briefly. Many classes have thick textbooks where it would be impossible to cover all of the material over the course of a semester. Generally, the GAO credits the current additional costs partly to supplements such as CD-ROMs that often accompany a book...</p>

<p>Another up-and-coming option is Freeload Press Inc., which is a company that started up in 2004 with the idea of placing commercial advertisements in textbooks to defray the costs which also allows them to provide the text in a low-cost print version or in a free e-book form. This is made possible through advertisements, which are promised to be put only at "natural breaks" in the text and certain ads can be vetoed. Currently, they are being used at more than 100 colleges but have a very limited library and their texts are solely for business, math and computer applications courses.

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<p><a href="http://media.www.loyolaphoenix.com/media/storage/paper673/news/2007/01/24/News/Textbook.Prices.Pack.Punch-2671233-page4.shtml?sourcedomain=www.loyolaphoenix.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://media.www.loyolaphoenix.com/media/storage/paper673/news/2007/01/24/News/Textbook.Prices.Pack.Punch-2671233-page4.shtml?sourcedomain=www.loyolaphoenix.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>I use ebooks a lot for class. Our library subscribes to various online collections and they're very handy - especially with the search functions etc. One collection even autoreferences if you copy paste quotes! I don't mind reading on a computer at all - I'm invariably typing an essay at the same time, so it doesn't make much difference. And as for curled up with a book, well that's what laptops are for! :D</p>

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<p>Introducing the new Bio-Optic Organized Knowledge device, trade-name
"BOOK."</p>

<p>BOOK is a revolutionary breakthrough in technology; no wires, no electric
circuits, no batteries, nothing to be connected or switched on. It's so
easy to use even a child can operate it. Compact and portable, it can be
used anywhere, even sitting in an armchair by the fire, yet it is powerful
enough to hold as much information as a CD-ROM disc.</p>

<p>Here is how it works: BOOK is constructed of sequentially numbered
sheets of recyclable paper, each capable of holding thousands of bits of
information. The pages are locked together with a custom-fit device
called a binder, which keeps the sheets in their correct sequence.</p>

<p>Opaque Paper Technology (OPT) allows manufacturers to use both sides of the sheet, doubling the information density and cutting costs. Each sheet is scanned optically, registering information directly into your brain. A flick of your finger takes you to the next sheet. BOOK may be taken up at any time and used merely by simply opening it.</p>

<p>BOOK never crashes or requires rebooting. The Browse feature allows you to
move instantly to any sheet, and move forward or backward as you wish.
Many come with an Index feature, which pinpoints the exact location of any
selected information for instant retrieval. An optional "BOOKMARK" accessory allows you to open BOOK to the exact place you left it in a previous session, even if the BOOK is closed.</p>

<p>BOOKMARKS fit universal design standards; thus, a single BOOKMARK can be
used in BOOKS by various manufacturers. Conversely, numerous BOOKMARKS can be used in a single BOOK if the user wants to store numerous views at once. The number is limited only by the number of pages in the BOOK.</p>

<p>You can also make personal notes next to BOOK text entries with an
optional programming tool, named: "Portable Erasable Nib Cryptic
Intercommunication Language Stylus" -- or -- "PENCILS."</p>

<p>Portable, durable and affordable, the BOOK is being hailed as the
precursor of a huge entertainment wave. BOOK'S appeal seems so certain that thousands of content-creators have committed to the platform and investors are reportedly flocking to the new phenomenon. Look for a flood of new titles soon.</p>

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<p>I teach at a community college. It is hard enough to get students to read a real text, but getting them to go online is even more difficult. Many of my students are non-traditional and don't have easy online access or adequate computers. In my discipline, students need to be able to refer to chapter material while solving homework problems and an e-book might actually require more time to accomplish this. In my experience, smart publishers are streamlining their texts to save on printing costs (my students typically pay $150+ for a new book) and shifting the "extras" such as ethics cases, real world examples, guided practice problems, etc. to the internet where motivated students will seek them out. I have responding to publisher surveys about e-books for close to 5 years and they don't seem to be taking off any more now than when they were first pushing them (again, speaking only for my discipline).</p>

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<p>Upcoming high resolution electronic paper with a dpi >300 is right on the horizon. Once it becomes readily available, the eBook will become common and the paper book collector's items.</p>

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<p>The average amount Harvard students spend on textbooks, compact discs , course packets, and other related materials is pushing $1,300 a year. Jeremy R. Knowles, dean of the faculty of arts and sciences, and Benedict H. Gross, dean of Harvard College want Harvard University professors to reduce student expenditures on textbooks and other course material by putting those items on line or by deciding earlier if they plan to use the same textbook in subsequent semesters.</p>

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..."I personally don't buy all the texts because prices are absurd," said Roy Cohen, 22, of Israel.</p>

<p>"I feel if Harvard is trying to open its door more to people with diverse financial backgrounds, they could do more to help subsidize book costs," said Cohen, who has not declared a major.</p>

<p>The deans said they sent the e-mail this year because of concern over the growing cost of textbooks, as well as to remind faculty that more written material is available on line and licensable for institutional use...</p>

<p>The move by Harvard deans follows attempts in Congress and state legislatures in Maryland, New York, and elsewhere to rein in rising textbook spending...</p>

<p>But complaints about costs, particularly among students, go beyond materials sold by publishers. Students also are annoyed by the cost of course packets, which are compiled by professors and include photocopies of copyrighted materials, such as academic journal articles. The packets can run more than $100 at Harvard, students say.</p>

<p>"The course packets have no resale value," said Rick McKellar, 18, a freshman from Tennessee who has not declared a major. "I'd rather spend more on a hard cover book."</p>

<p>The deans said that faculty could help students by deciding in early spring whether they intend to use the same textbook in the fall.</p>

<p>A quicker decision could allow the Harvard Coop to buy back books from students enrolled in spring classes .</p>

<p>The students would receive about 50 percent of their payment back, while students next fall would have the benefit of buying a used book at a discount.</p>

<p>Some Harvard students, outraged by textbook costs, have created websites that list required readings for various courses and links to such places as Amazon.com, where students can buy books for less than area bookstores charge .</p>

<p>But even buying on line has its pitfalls, one student said.</p>

<p>"Sometimes, when you buy on line, the books don't get here on time," said Stephanie Shing, 18, a freshman from Cambridge.

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<p><a href="http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/04/09/cut_costs_of_books_at_harvard_deans_urge/?rss_id=Boston.com+%2F+News+%2F+Education%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/04/09/cut_costs_of_books_at_harvard_deans_urge/?rss_id=Boston.com+%2F+News+%2F+Education&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Why does Harvard charge for coursepaks?</p>

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<p>Prices can range from 10 bucks to $400.</p>

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<p>It is not the paper which is expensive. The publishers advertising, marketing and profits account for much of the cost and don't change whether the book is an ebook or hardcopy. Personally, I have found hardcopy books much easier to read and study. I suspect the publishing industry is having a hard time trying to decide what to do for the future. An ebook is very easy to copy. I am sure publishers look at the recording industry and are concerned.</p>

<p>I think some publishers have found the approach that will work in the future. My D has a big, fat and expensive physics text. Part of the course involves logging on to the publishers webpage. Problem sets and reviews are done online. With time, I suspect more of the content will transfer to the online learning. There certainly has been a lot of talk about replacing today's lecture format with online learning. Fewer teachers, less brick and mortar and lower costs for attending college.</p>