For Immediate Release
June 1, 2007
Contact: Stacy Skelly
ph: 202-220-4556
AAP Reviews Proposed Solutions in ACSFA Textbook Report
Statement from Bruce Hildebrand, Executive Director for Higher Education
June 1, 2007, Washington, DC: “The Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance (ACSFA) report issued today, Turn the Page: Making College Textbooks More Affordable, raises important questions and clearly states that assigning blame to faculty, colleges, bookstores and publishers for current textbook costs is without merit. The Association of American Publishers (AAP) and the publishing community thank the members and staff of ACSFA for their work on this important issue and appreciate the opportunities we had to testify at the Committee’s hearings.
ACSFA’s report stresses the import of thedigital and lower-cost solutions in which post-secondary textbook publishers are currently investing, including custom textbooks, “no frills” editions and e-textbooks. Publishers continue to be leading advocates for advancing the use of technology and digital materials throughout post-secondary education. Publishers are active participants in the California State University System’s effort to promote the use of digital course materials to enhance student learning, which is the basis for ACSFA’s key long-term recommendation. These increasingly sophisticated digital learning materials for students and faculty go beyondthe basic e-textbook to include online practice exams and homework, online tutoring, podcasting, video clips, 3-D graphics andotherinteractivefeaturesthat are available to students 24/7.
As the Committee stated, legislative and regulatory measures that would compel specific actions are counterproductive for all the stakeholders involved. We are concerned about a few of the reports recommendations such as the expansion of the used textbook market, which will actually drive up costs in the long term, and the call for increased usage of e-reserves, without consideration of potential copyright implications.
AAP members remain ready to further discuss the ideas and possible solutions in the ACSFA report. By providing a broad range of learning materials that students need, especially materials for those who are less prepared for today’s academic environment, publishers are committed to helping students succeed, the foremost goal of post-secondary education.”
Further information is available at www.textbookfacts.org
About the Association of American Publishers
The Association of American Publishers is the national trade association of the U.S. book publishing industry. AAP’smore than300 members include most of the major commercial publishers in the United States, as well as smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses and scholarly societies. AAP members publish hardcover and paperback books in every field, educational materials for the elementary, secondary, postsecondary, and professional markets, scholarly journals, computer software, and electronic products and services. The protection of intellectual property rights in all media, the defense of the freedom to read and the freedom to publish at home and abroad, and the promotion of reading and literacy are among the Association’s highest priorities.
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