Our View: Physical books pave the way to learning, but e-books pave the way to a well-stocked wallet.
Let’s face it: e-books are the next big thing. We know many of you are filled with the deepest ire just hearing that statement, ready to expound the virtues of physical books. Maybe its that new book smell, or the satisfaction of holding it in your hands and watching the page count dwindle. Maybe its that instinctive sense that digital reading somehow doesn’t “count.” We’re not sure exactly, but we share your concerns. On the other hand, the rise of e-books could mean good things for college students.
Put aside your images of rainy days with a good mystery novel and think about textbooks — these are some of the most expensive books available. They are a constant drain on student budgets and can be a serious chiropractic nightmare. But an e-book version would diminish both the price tag and the weight, as well as being conveniently available from anywhere on a tablet, e-reader or smartphone.
Retailers can offer e-books at a lower price because they cut out the cost of production, shipping and stocking. Many textbooks are currently available online or in e-book format, and some students already have started using them instead of physical books. But availability, especially of the most expensive science texts, is still limited. OU could do a lot more to encourage the suppliers it buys from to create online versions of their texts. The university bookstore could even devote resources to helping students find e-book versions of their required textbooks.
Professors also can use this new technology to help lessen the financial (and physical) burden on students. When they create their reading lists at the beginning of the year, they could be sure to choose books with a digital version available. And they could be sure to point students in the direction of this version before the year starts and many already have bought their books. Some professors have hopped on this bandwagon, but it should be a much more widespread practice at OU.
And even outside the realm of textbooks, e-books could improve Sooners’ lives. The Norman Public Library recently started checking out e-books, but the OU library system hasn’t yet adopted this approach. Not only would this allow students to check out books more easily and carry them around in portable technology, it also would allow OU to make more books available. The lower costs of e-books means OU could widen its selection, even during budget cuts.
Yes, there are limits to this technology. And of course physical textbooks must always remain an option for students without easy access to the Internet, or for those without the financial means to buy a tablet or e-reader who need the book in class. But supporting the option of e-books will cut the monetary burden on students, make textbooks more convenient and greener option and eliminate the worry of leaving behind that one vital textbook.
Paper vs. electronic books
This is a list of courses with required textbooks. There are two formats: e-books and physical books.
ENGL 1113
“Norton Field Guide to Writing" by Bullock
• E-book: $18.75
• OU bookstore: $58
Source: Norton website
PHIL 1113
A Concise Introduction to Logic by Hurley
• E-book: $91.96
• OU bookstore: $148
Source: amazon.com
CHEM 1315
“Chemistry” by Burdge
• E-book: $96
• OU bookstore: $167
Source: vitalsource.com
ZOO 1114
“Biology” by Hoefnagels
• E-book: $91.75
• OU bookstore: $173
Source: McGraw-Hill website
