Bill directs colleges to text rental program

A bill providing guidelines for implementations of a textbook
rental program in the state’s public colleges passed the
California State Assembly on May 20 with bipartisan support.

The bill, which will now move on to the state Senate, was
introduced by Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood, and
sponsored by the California Public Interest Research Group.

“The bill is not a mandate on schools, but a strong
encouragement,” said Mark Thornton, CALPIRG state board
chairman and one of the coordinators of the affordable textbooks
program.

He explained that the bill does not force any higher-education
institution to implement the rental program, but provides
guidelines for them.

He added that the bill is an encouragement to get schools to
decrease the cost of higher education.

According to a press release dated May 20, the rental program
caps textbook rental fees at 50 percent of the cost of purchasing
books, a measure that many students say would benefit them.

Angelina Garefis, a fourth-year biology student, said she has
spent up to $140 on a single book and has gotten less than half
that when she sold the book back.

“If the loss of me buying the book is greater than me
renting it, I would definitely rent a book,” Garefis
said.

In order for the program to work at UCLA, it requires the
cooperation of student government, administration and faculty.

Thornton said there are a number of ways for the cost of
textbooks to be lowered, and this is only one of them. He added
that whether the program is implemented at UCLA depends on the
administration.

Even with the support of all parties involved, the recent budget
cuts can get in the way of UCLA introducing a new program.

“(Right now) is a rough time to start this program,”
said Jolene Mitchell, CALPIRG chapter chairwoman at UCLA, referring
to the cuts that the university is undergoing.

Mitchell said she would like to see UCLA take part in the
program, and added that she and her group, which has been working
with Koretz, would be willing to cooperate with the administrators
to help publicize the rental program.

Textbook rental services are currently in place at 20 U.S.
colleges and universities.

The bill also gives students the option of purchasing the books
after renting them.

“Rental programs make more used books available for
purchase, allow substantial savings for students ““ whether
they are buying or renting their books ““ and can actually
make more money for bookstores. This is a no-brainer,” Koretz
said in a press release.

Mitchell said the bill’s passing is a step forward and
shows that legislators see there is a problem with the cost of
textbooks.

“Publishers should take note of that,” she
added.

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