While searching for your books whether it is on Amazon.com, Chegg.com, or your school’s book store, many students have recently been trying to decide if they want to purchase their books digital or stick to the original physical copy of their texts books. Text book pricing can vary depending on the type of book and where you order it but in the end your textbook bill for the semester always seems to be over $100 in most cases.
The two most popular places to go for texts books have included amazon and chegg. These websites in some cases can offer a student a lower price on a textbook than your school bookstore can offer. Every student is always trying to find a better way to save money while purchasing their textbooks for the semester.
eTextbooks have been talked about for about five years and have progressed into being able to simply download your textbook digitally on your iPad, Kindle, Tablet or your laptop. Features that are included with your digital download provide a library folder that contain all of the downloaded texts books you have purchased. While reading your textbook you are able to increase the size of the text to as big as you want.
“I like the fact that there are so many things that make it easier for me while using my text books if I do get them digitally. Being an education major I have a lot of books that I need to take to class, having all of them on just my iPad or computer would make my life so much easier.” said Andrea Gerardi, Junior Special Education Major. A student can also search for a certain keyword or page number instead of flipping through a textbook.
Some people are a little more skeptical about textbooks taking the digital route. ” I hate everything about them.” said Kate Stevens, Junior special education major. Many people do not want to give up that ability to flip through a real book rather than a computer or tablet. “Not all the texts books I need are offered as an eTextbook so its like an extra hassle to try and find it. I don’t see the need for them.”
The argument that seems to be a majority of peoples reactions is that they either don’t want to bring their tablet, or textbook to class or can’t afford to get a tablet to read off of their cheaper text books. “I still like having the physical copy of the textbook while I’m in class. I feel like having a textbook as a digital copy would just confuse me and be too difficult to use.” said Cody Calise, Senior Communication major.
Everyone seems to be talking about them but does that mean they are taking over the bookstore world? “They are not that popular. But we do seek more every semester. It is a very small percentage of sales compared to textbooks.” said Bill Briddes, store manager of the Cabrini College bookstore.
The Cabrini Bookstore currently provides a variety of different ways to get an eTextbook for the semester. Students are able to go to the bookstore website, click under books and then go to digital course materials. After that the website will direct you to a list of options of where to get your different versions of eTextbooks.
eTextbooks are accessible on laptops, tablets and Kindle.
