Collegiate Times

Come August, Virginia Tech students will once again shell out large amounts of cash to purchase textbooks ? a semester ritual which has experienced annual increases for the past two decades.

According to a 2005 Government Accountability Office report, ?College Textbooks: Enhanced Offerings Appear to Drive Recent Price Increases,? the cost of college textbooks nearly tripled between 1986 and 2004, rising an average six percent per year.

?In the last two decades, college textbooks prices have increased at twice the rate of inflation but have followed close behind tuition increases,? the report said. ?While many factors affect textbook pricing, the increasing costs associated with developing products designed to accompany textbooks, such as CD-ROMS and other instructional developments best explain price increases in recent years.?

Armed with this information, the House?s Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance plans to study the current trends and make recommendations on how to lower the costs of books to the lawmakers. In the spring, Governor Tim Kaine signed legislation requiring colleges in Virginia to construct policies to encourage reducing the prices of books.

But, much to the chagrin of several Tech students, the trend remains nationwide for the time being, including Blacksburg.

?Textbook prices have increased nationally, so prices have gone up here as well,? said Dave Wilson, academic division manager of the University Bookstore. ?Publishers have increased prices to all their customers. I will say that here at Virginia Tech, the bookstores discount textbook prices by up to 10 percent off the national standard.?

Last January, Noelle Grant, a rising junior health, exercise and nutrition major, was required to purchase five books for her five classes and two labs. She spent enough money to cover almost two months rent.

?I paid $650 for five books. It was a whole lot of money,? she said.

While the amount of money required for the books may always come as an unpleasant shock to students lined up at the cash register, the totals may most surprise incoming freshman and those paying ? parents.

?I knew they were going to be expensive, but I guess I didn?t realize how expensive,? said rising freshman engineering major Chris Olsen.

While at orientation, Olsen purchased his first college texts. He bought four used books for his 12 hour course-load. His total: over $350.

?It?s expensive, but you need them,? he said. ?There is really nothing you can do.?

The priciest item on Olsen?s purchase list was his chemistry book. A hard-bound book complete with software and a lab workbook, it cost him over $100.

According to the report, these types of extras included with books may be the main reason in the recent upward price trend.

?While there are many factors that affect textbook pricing, the price of textbooks have increased in recent years ? as a result of cost associated with new features, such as web sites and other instructional features,? the report said. ?Publishers say they have increased their investments in development of supplements to meet the demands of a changing post-secondary market.?

Grant found her most expensive books also included extra supplements. Her statistics book was most expensive, with a biology and chemistry book jacking up the price.

?You get a lot of stuff, like lab books and CDs, in the hard-bound science oriented books,? she said. ?And those are the ones that are usually most expensive.?

According to Wilson, at Tech the most costly books typically are the hardbacks, specialized books, and those that ?contain technology products or extra materials.?

While waiting for effective textbook legislation, students can opt for alternative, cheaper purchasing methods. Websites like amazon.com and ebay.com offer textbooks at lower prices, but have difficulty with the newer editions.

?I know it?s cheaper, but I?m too lazy and I buy my books at the last minute,? Grant said.

If all else fails, have mom and dad pocket the bill.

?It?s something you have to do,? said Pam Olsen, Chris?s mother. ?It?s different than high school where you don?t have to pay. With college, you do. You have to have books.?