Thomson Learning, a prominent textbook publisher, recently
announced its launch of a new line of low-priced textbooks that
will be available to students starting in the summer of 2004.
The company said these books will be 25 percent cheaper than the
hardcover books it produces for the same courses. Thomson Learning
publishes books in all subject areas, ranging from humanities to
mathematics.
The series of books, called the Advantage Series, will consist
of cost-saving editions modified in various ways from the original
texts.
“We are highly enthusiastic about the launch of the
Advantage Series, which is just one reflection of our ongoing
commitment to responding quickly with unique and varied solutions
to our customers’ current and emerging needs,” said
Susan Badger, CEO of Thomson Higher Education, which operates under
Thomson Learning, in a statement on Feb. 9.
Thomson Learning was one of the publishers criticized in a
report released by the California Student Public Interest Research
Group on Jan. 29.
CALPIRG’s report protested the practices of Thomson
Learning and other companies that drive up the cost of textbooks
for students.
Merriah Fairchild, CALPIRG’s higher education program
advocate, has been meeting with officials from Thomson Learning and
said though the new line is a step in the right direction, it is
still not a “home run” for students.
To provide low-cost textbooks to students, Thomson Learning
plans to release three lines of alternate products.
Some textbooks will be available in unbound versions. These
textbooks will be available in the form of hole-punched loose pages
that students can place in a binder.
Fairchild believes the problem with the unbound text is that due
to current buyback policies, students could not sell back loose
paper.
“It is important that there is a vibrant used-book market
available,” she said.
Another alternative the company plans to offer is compact
editions.
These are smaller-sized books in which only one or two colors
are used and fewer photographs and illustrations are printed.
When illustrations cannot be completely illuminated with the
low-color feature, the publisher plans to supplement the books with
“media-rich” Web sites, so the material is still
available to students but the cost increase is avoided.
The company stated that students would have access to these
multimedia learning tools and tutorials in addition to the
text.
“We’re giving our customers an alternative to the
traditional textbook model,” said Joe Marcelle, senior vice
president of sales and marketing, in the statement.
During the first season the new line of books is scheduled to be
released, more than 25 titles from Thomson Learning will be
available in the Advantage Series, and Thomson Higher Education
will increase the number of titles offered by next fall and
throughout the upcoming years.
Fairchild said that, other than the very small number of books
offered, she is concerned faculty will not be made aware of these
cheaper alternatives. She added that what’s important is that
this new line of products shows it is possible for the publishers
to lower the costs of textbooks.
CALPIRG hopes Thomson Learning can become a leader and
demonstrate the possibility of lowering costs to other book
producers, Fairchild said.
“We don’t think that they would have made these
changes unless the issue was raised in this way,” said Mark
Thornton, CALPIRG board chairman, referring to his belief that the
media attention surrounding the issue may have been part of the
reason the company decided to change its practices.