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[wanna_writemore]

This is a problem in calculus.  I tell people about the Nth edition of <standard text>, which is about $200 new.  I have a few with (N-1)st edition, and a few with the Early Transcendentals version, and a few with the (N-1)st edition of the Early Transcendentals version.  I point out to them that I'm not responsible for the differences, although they should know this.

One problem is that the library doesn't actually have a copy to put on reserve, and I only have my desk copy.  Another problem that I have is that the next edition (usually no more than four or five years after the introduction of the last) has only a few cosmetic changes from the current edition, just enough to ensure that page numbers, section numbers, and homework problems don't match up.

There are open-source equivalents to many textbooks out there, and I might consider going with one of those except that I think it will be a long time before any open-source text gets widespread acceptance.  I believe that a department would be deeply concerned with a textbook committee that recommended an open-source text, for many reasons. 

There's an old saying in the computer world: "Nobody ever got fired for buying IBM."  I think this is the same with the traditional standard calculus texts like Thomas, Stewart, and so forth.  But that's why those texts cost over $200 new, and come out in new editions every few years with just cosmetic changes; because nobody has the guts (or the time) to create and champion an open-source alternative.

It certainly won't work in departments where instructors use the same book, but last year I was able to "trade" an extra copy of the text a colleague was using (and I wasn't) for his extra copy of the one I was using so I could put one on reserve.


Then again, I'm not sure students read the book if they only have access to the reserve copy for 2 hrs at a time at the library (our only reserve option).   But that's an issue for a different thread....

[galactic_hedgehog]

p.s., on textbook rental services...  My students tell me they rent a $85 book for $45 for 4 months. Hmmm.  Doesn't that seem a bit expensive?

That may be so but the student needs to ask themselves if they intend to look at the book after semester ends.  If not then $45 is still cheaper than $85.  I can also get a book listed at $200 for $56 so it is certainly cheaper if you are only looking to use the book for the semester and never look at it again.

The relevant comparison is between rental and net cost after resale. 

In general, students "rent" most of their books because they re-sell them, when possible.  If a book is in its last year of use and availability before a new edition is adopted, it may be safer to rent.  But for my most expensive textbook this semester, the cost is about the same.  The bookstore price new is $101.
Lowest online price new $98 - highest sell-back price $56 = $42
vs. lowest online rental $44

IF they can get that high a sell-back price.

[spyzowin]

In fact, some have actually said, "Can't you get a free copy anyway?" or "Can't you order a free copy for me?"

Maybe I can, but why should they, and nobody else, get free books?

So you shouldn't get free books either?

[polly_mer]

This is a problem in calculus.  I tell people about the Nth edition of <standard text>, which is about $200 new.  I have a few with (N-1)st edition, and a few with the Early Transcendentals version, and a few with the (N-1)st edition of the Early Transcendentals version.  I point out to them that I'm not responsible for the differences, although they should know this.

One problem is that the library doesn't actually have a copy to put on reserve, and I only have my desk copy.  Another problem that I have is that the next edition (usually no more than four or five years after the introduction of the last) has only a few cosmetic changes from the current edition, just enough to ensure that page numbers, section numbers, and homework problems don't match up.

There are open-source equivalents to many textbooks out there, and I might consider going with one of those except that I think it will be a long time before any open-source text gets widespread acceptance.  I believe that a department would be deeply concerned with a textbook committee that recommended an open-source text, for many reasons. 

There's an old saying in the computer world: "Nobody ever got fired for buying IBM."  I think this is the same with the traditional standard calculus texts like Thomas, Stewart, and so forth.  But that's why those texts cost over $200 new, and come out in new editions every few years with just cosmetic changes; because nobody has the guts (or the time) to create and champion an open-source alternative.

It certainly won't work in departments where instructors use the same book, but last year I was able to "trade" an extra copy of the text a colleague was using (and I wasn't) for his extra copy of the one I was using so I could put one on reserve.


Then again, I'm not sure students read the book if they only have access to the reserve copy for 2 hrs at a time at the library (our only reserve option).   But that's an issue for a different thread....

Maybe students don't do it, but when I was preparing for my teaching demonstration for my last interview, I drove two hours to Big State U and convinced the library clerk to let me have the on-reserve copy of a text (the only copy of the text that I could locate in two hundred miles on the short notice for this interview) for a couple hours so that I could prepare a lesson using the text that my interviewing university suggested.  The student worker was initially reluctant to let me have the text since I didn't have the proper id to check it out, but the staff member who overheard the conversation was happy to take my driver's license as collateral and let me sit at a table around the corner from the front desk.  While I'm sure my honest face helped, I figure it's not too terribly often that someone tries to steal a battered, three year old physics textbook and not too many students will be trying to use the on-reserve copy of the textbook on a random Thursday morning before most students are even out of bed.