Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing

16
Trinity Washington University Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing Jacob Berg, Sister Helen Sheehan Library January, 2010

description

Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing. Jacob Berg, Sister Helen Sheehan Library January, 2010. Textbooks are expensive. Why? Revision Cycle 3 to 4 years, on average Enhanced Offerings CD-ROMs, web-based features Moral Hazard. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing

Page 1: Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing

Trinity Washington University

Alternatives to TextbooksE-books and Custom Publishing

Jacob Berg, Sister Helen Sheehan LibraryJanuary, 2010

Page 2: Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing

Textbooks are expensive

Why?• Revision Cycle

– 3 to 4 years, on average

• Enhanced Offerings– CD-ROMs, web-based features

• Moral Hazard

Page 3: Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing

Increase in Textbook Price By Year, 1986-2004

Page 4: Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing
Page 5: Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing
Page 6: Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing

National Association of College Stores, 2008

Page 7: Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing

What does this mean for you?

• Students don’t buy textbooksU

se the library, or

they don’t read the book

Assignments suffer

* Numbers not yet final

Sept 361

Oct 291

Nov 154

Dec 34

Total Reserve

Book Requests, Fall 2010* 840

Page 8: Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing

Solution 1: e-books

Pros

• Cheap• Portable• Embedded/linked

in Moodle

Cons

• Students don’t like them

• May be dependent on an Internet connection

• In some cases, students cannot access the book after the course is over

Page 9: Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing

Solution 1.1: Open-access

• Google is your friend• University consortiums are your

friend, too

Page 10: Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing

1.1: What’s an open textbook?

Generally, open textbooks allow users:• to use the textbook without

compensating the author• to copy the textbook, with appropriate

credit to the author• to distribute the textbook non-

commerciallyHowever, there may be restrictions on

modifying or printingSource: Open Access Textbooks,

www.openaccesstextbooks.org/projectInfo.html

Page 11: Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing

Open vs. Traditional Textbooks

Open Textbooks Traditional TextbooksDynamic and customizable Static and non-customizable

Targeted in-depth material Generic material

Timely Dated

Can be personalized for local conditions

Standardized content

Can addresses multiple learning styles

Assumes a uniform learning style

Free Often costly

(Source: Rice University, Connexions, http://cnx.org/content/m15226/latest/ )

Page 12: Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing

Open Textbooks in Practice

• Test Case: Statistics– Introductory Statistics vs. Collaborative

Statistics – Bookstore vs. Open Access e-book– Costly vs. Free

Page 13: Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing

Solution 2: Custom Publishing

• Through the bookstore (eFollet)– http://www.ladcustompub.com/– http://www.xanedu.com/

• Through a publisher (e.g., Pearson)• Flat World Knowledge

– Free e-book or low-cost print on demand (POD)

Page 14: Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing

Solution 2: Custom Publishing

Pros

Less expensiveCustomizable

Cons

No re-sale valueNot as sturdy

Page 15: Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing

Solution 3

• Textbook Rentals – Cheaper than buying– Cheaper than an e-book– (http://cafescribe.com/)

But supply is often limited

Page 16: Alternatives to Textbooks E-books and Custom Publishing

Wrapping Up

• Consider either e-books or a custom published book in place of textbooks– Especially true of Trinity Online courses

• Non-traditional textbook options are not a panacea– They may not be right for you

Contact: Jacob Berg, [email protected], x9357Eddie Lewis, Trinity Bookstore Manager,

[email protected], x9157