College students today have the option to check their email on their smartphone, tablet or laptop computer. Most devices will also double as a portable music player. Even so, it’s not enough to convince the technologically savvy to toss out their textbooks and invest in e-books.
The National Association of College Stores (NACS) found in a recent poll that 74 percent of students still long for the printed version of required college reading, even with the price of e-books being as much as 60 to 70 percent of the cost of a physical copy.
Charles Schmidt, spokesman for the NACS said that one of the main reasons digital textbooks aren’t as popular is that most e-books are simply PDF files of their printed counterpart. Specifically, students are used to handling content online, and a plain screen just isn’t worth it, according to experts.
The average student enrolled at a private, four-year college, spent $1,213 on textbooks and course materials for the 2011 to 2012 academic year, said The College Board, which is a 3 percent increase from the year before.
However, numbers show that just because a book is available in e-book form, that doesn’t guarantee it’s the best option, as used textbooks and rentals can also be cost-effective options. For example, CNNMoney reports that the architecture book “Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods,” is $71.31 for a new hardcover, $66 as an e-book and $55 for a used, print version.
As individuals continue to prove that there is a need for printed materials, businesses and organizations would be wise to continue catering to that audience. Binding equipment and supplies are a good investment in order to offer the ability to properly hold pamphlets and booklets together in an organized fashion.
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