ACC likely to adopt textbook rental plan

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This article was published 30/08/2010 (5697 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The University of Winnipeg bookstore is implementing a textbook rental program this fall that will likely be adopted at Assiniboine Community College in 2011.

The University of Winnipeg bookstore’s manager, Michael Clark, says students able to rent two or three books per term should save between $100-200.

"Shakespeare hasn’t changed that much in the last 200 years, but it seems every year there’s a new edition of something. This way, we’re trying to save students money and recycle textbooks, going along with the campus’ sustainability cause," Clark said.

Clark says about 25 per cent of books currently in the bookstore will be available for rent in the fall semester and the store is working with faculty to increase that number before January. Most of the books are first- and second-year courses and books can be rented new or used.

Students are able to write and highlight in the books as if they were their own.

If students decide at the end of the term that they want to keep their book, they will be refunded the rental price and can buy it at purchase price.

For the project to remain viable in an age where new editions of textbooks are published every few years, Clark says faculty are being asked to commit to a guaranteed adoption of a textbook edition for at least four terms.

Clark says he’s receiving positive feedback from students and faculty.

"It’s been pretty well received from all faculties, which is great. I assume this will really take off for January classes," he said.

The rental program is being tested in five other universities across the country this year by Follett Canada, a bookstore management company that manages 33 Canadian bookstores, including the University of Winnipeg bookstore and the Assiniboine Community College bookstore.

Elio DiStaola, director of campus relations for Follett Canada, says if the pilot is successful, the program will be available in all of their stores prior to the 2011 academic year, including the ACC’s bookstore.

"To be frank, I think our pilot will be a success. I assume students here will respond the way they have in the States, where we have a 99 per cent approval rating," DiStaola said.

Unlike ACC’s bookstore, Brandon University’s Campus Books is an institutionally owned bookstore — owned and operated by the university with no association with Follett Canada.

Campus Books manager Amber Clark says a rental program is being discussed, but will require further examination to make sure the program is viable for the store.

"Half of every dollar of our profit goes directly to the students’ union, so we have to be careful we’re not cutting our own throats. We have to have a model that makes sense for us. But we will be looking into it," Clark said.

 

Get ready for electronic textbooks

In an age of iPads, iPods and laptops, books and paper are on their way out and electronic textbooks, or eTextbooks, are starting to hit campus shelves.

Follett Canada, which manages the Assiniboine Community College bookstore, has purchased a student-created social network and digital book platform called CaféScribe that it says should be available through its Canadian stores by the beginning of the 2011 academic year.

Follett Canada’s director of campus relations, Elio DiStaola, describes CaféScribe as a hybrid between Facebook and textbooks.

"If you’re in a class with 40 other students, you can subscribe to another student’s notes and collaborate within the book or a faculty member can go into the chapter you’re supposed to read and ask you questions within the book. It takes social networking to a different level," DiStaolo says.

Brandon University Campus Books store manager Amber Clark says while there are currently no plans to implement eTextbooks, it is something the store will consider.

"(The book-selling business) is a drastically changing business. Technology is changing so rapidly, we will look into virtually anything that will allow us to remain viable and profitable."

» Brandon Sun