Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why do textbooks cost so much right now?

A. The textbook market is not a normal market, because the people who pick the books (the instructors) are not the ones paying for them (the students). Instructors focus on content and merit when selecting a textbook, and rightly so, but this means that publishers are under little pressure to keep prices low.

Of course, many publishers understand this dynamic and exploit it. Constant edition changes, excessive bundling and aggressive marketing campaigns add further to the overall price of books. Currently, in the textbook market, competition is used as an explanation for the high cost of academic materials instead of causing pressure for publishers to lower prices!

Many publishers change editions very frequently, even in stable subjects such as introductory calculus. These unnecessary changes effectively disrupt the used-books market and force students and instructors to buy new books.

Q. The price of everything goes up over time; why should textbooks be any different?

A. Yes, the price of many commodities goes up over time, and textbooks are no exception. However, due to the unique nature of the textbook market, the price of textbooks has been increasing at a rate that greatly outpaces inflation (at the University of Alberta the rate has been observed at an average of 280% between 1995 and 2007).

Q. What can we realistically expect in terms of reduced textbook prices?

A: CRAM is still young and a national dialogue is just beginning to grow. It may take years to change the nature and culture of the textbook market. But even in the short term, a little change can go a long way: if one single instructor switches from a $150 textbook to a $100 textbook in a 200-student class, the student population will have saved $10,000. The more we work together on this, the more quickly we’ll start seeing more large scale results.

Q. Are there any alternatives to expensive textbooks?

A. Yes, there are several alternatives to textbooks, that is why CRAM speaks about academic materials in general instead of narrowing in on textbooks. Custom course materials printed on campus are very common alternatives – however the Access Copyright levy on copyrighted course pack materials has increased at an even more drastic rate than textbooks have. Digital resources, such as electronic versions of textbooks, also exist.

Q. Where can I find more information?

A. Check out our Resources Page: you will find documents from CRAM, reports on the academic materials industry and links to even further resources. If you do not find the information you are seeking for Contact us and we will help you seek it out.

Q. This is a great idea! What can I do to get involved?

A. Check out our Get Involved Page: you will find ways in which you can get involved with CRAM and information about what your peers are doing on their own campuses.

Q: What benefit does CRAM provide to you?

A: According to our current members the benefits they have received include:

• The sharing of information and concerns with both your peers and other stakeholders in the process; you learn what their perspectives are in addition to sharing your own with them.
• Exposure to best practices – seeing what your peers are doing and how you can adapt their practices to make it work for your campus. Giving the recognition to those individuals across Canada who care about this issue and spend the time finding innovative solutions to it. For example, learning about instructors who teach without using any textbooks in their courses.
• There are elements of this issue that you can work on right now, months from now and years from now. This is a very broad and long-term issue yet you can tangibly contribute to the solution starting today. People can contribute in the area where they are most competent – bringing their strengths to the roundtable.
• Being involved is inspirational/motivational. You take part in something larger than your individual school and join into the chorus that is speaking as one voice on behalf of Canadian students.
• Breaking down normal boundaries. As a bookstore you can turn directly to your student representative and ask them what they need instead of assuming what they want. As a student you get to express your concerns directly to your bookstore and know that they are being listened to and respected. With the inclusion of faculty members in the future this will become an even more diverse and rewarding dialogue.
• Proactively looking forward into the future of the academic materials industry by trying to anticipate the needs of students and instructors in the future. CRAM is not only looking at the problems that exist today, but also the problems of tomorrow so that we may confidently prepare for the future.