The Ohio State University is tackling the burden of expensive textbooks head-on, coordinating efforts to ensure students aren't priced out of proper course materials. According to an article from OSU News, last year, students spent an average of $285 on textbooks, and for many, that expense can mean the difference between success and failure in their courses.
Amanda Larson, who serves as the Affordable Educational Resources Initiative (AERI) program coordinator for University Libraries at Ohio State, knows the struggle firsthand. She told OSU News, “Throughout University Libraries, there are a lot of us who struggled to afford our books as students.” Larson once relied on a book voucher limited to the campus bookstore, thwarting any chance of finding cheaper alternatives elsewhere. In what serves as a personal crusade as much as a professional one, the AERI program under her guidance kicked off this year, presenting various avenues for professors to curtail costs.
Digital avenues like CarmenBooks are proving to be a game-changer, offering digital textbook copies and access to required publisher homework systems at considerably lower prices. Participation in this program has seen a staggering increase of 80%, translating into commendable savings for students—over $7 million, according to OSU News. Former interim director of the Dennis Learning Center and current director of holistic advising at Ohio Wesleyan University, Lauren Hensley, leveraged such resources, commenting, "This shift kept students on the same page with course concepts and assignments."
Meanwhile, syllabus review grants are enticing instructors to hunt for cost-effective alternatives, aligning librarian expertise with the teaching staff to trim down expenses by at least 25%. Larson said grants have already saved nearly $60,000 for 600 students this year. LiJuan Bi, lecturer at The Ohio State University Newark, jumped at the opportunity, saving each of her students over $100, her commentary highlighting the librarians’ guidance and support. “The librarians were very helpful,” she said in a statement obtained by OSU News, confirming the positive impact on students.
Despite the progress, Larson admits many professors are in the dark about the actual cost of assigned materials. But her team is making strides one textbook at a time. “We are student-centered at the end of the day,” Larson emphasized to OSU News. “How do we make education more accessible to students? With textbooks, that’s one place where we can help.” This statement reflects a commitment not only to education but to equity, ensuring that knowledge remains in reach for all who seek it.
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