Campus bookstores beware, there’s a new textbook provider in town: Academic Libraries! But instead of long lines, high costs, and lousy buy-back prices, campus libraries are providing open textbooks.

One example is at Portland State University (PSU). Recently “Portland State University Library announced the publication of five open textbooks authored by PSU faculty for PSU students. In their first term of use, these textbooks saved students more than $23,800.” Rather than being a barrier to education, these open textbooks are a prime example of the possibilities of synergy between faculty, staff, and the library on a campus.

Another example is at Louisiana State University (LSU). “The LSU Library is promoting a new program that enables students in more than 100 courses to access electronic textbooks, rather than having to purchase costly printed ones. The change represents significant savings for students, who typically shell out several hundred dollars each semester on textbooks. E-textbooks are free.”

Is there a future for campus bookstores? What do you think?

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