Have you ever seen a book listed on Amazon or Half.com with a description that says new cover or rebound or rebind? These are words you hear a lot in the used textbook industry. It is no secret (or is it?) that textbooks used in grades k-12 have tougher covers and binding than college books and regular bookstore books. This is because textbooks go through a great deal of wear and tear at the hands of your average middle school/high school student. Sometimes the only difference between a basic college text and an advanced high school version of the same book is the cover and binding. The books have the same material, but the high school book is built for rough handling.
Sometimes schools have stacks of books that are still good books, the pages are clean and the content up to date, but the cover has started to come apart. In cases like this schools can choose to have those books rebound. They are taken to a bindery and the bindery takes the books apart and puts new covers on them. This is a low cost, effective way to make books last. The pages of the book are trimmed a little every time they are rebound, so we recommend that it only be done once. By the time you need a second binding it's probably time to upgrade to a newer edition with up to date content anyway.
How do you tell if a book has been rebound? They usually have a white edge around the corners of the covers. If you see one listed for sale, do not be afraid to buy it. They are exactly the same book, just with a new cover. Often they sell for a better price as well.
www.southeasterntextbooks.com
866-872-6657
fax: 866-952-6657
k12@southeasterntextbooks.com
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Textbook Adoption Cycles
In the public school system schools order books in what we call adoption cycles. These cycles range anywhere from 4 to 7 years. Adoption cycles can be tricky, so I will do my best to explain them. For example: In Georgia, new books are adopted for the whole state every 7 years. So if we begin in 2000, lets say Georgia adopted science books. That means that the whole state, with the exception of a few counties, adopted all new science books for all grade levels. They bought, and paid full price, for new books from the publishers. These books will be used until the next science adoption in 2007. In 2001, Georgia may have adopted new social studies books. These books would be used until the next social studies adoption in 2008. In 2002 math would be adopted and used until 2009, and so on and so forth. A new subject is adopted every year, and used for 7 years. In many states the adoption cycle is mandated and controlled by the state board of education. They choose when specific books are to be adopted and each county in the state has to abide by the cycle they have made. There are a few instances where this does not happen. In Georgia for example, a few of the larger counties are a year behind. This does not cause too much of a problem because each county or school district controls their own budget.
In the mean time students are lugging these books around, spilling their cokes on them, using them as umbrellas in the rain and writing all over them. Not to mention the basic wear and tear from being shoved in lockers and backpacks. With all of this going on it is hard to believe that a book could last for 7 years, right? Well, most of them don't. This is where a used book company comes in. Yes, the school could order the books new again from the publisher but why waste that kind of money for a new class set? Schools buy used because the bulk of their textbook budget goes to buying those new books on the adoption cycle. So don't feel bad for the book publishers, they are still getting over 80% of the schools budgeted book money. In counties where they don't have a huge budget, used textbook buying can save them a lot and they can take that extra money and put it into another area. There have been counties that have been able to save art and music programs because of used textbook buying. Used textbook companies "fill in" what the schools need between adoptions.
There are a few exceptions to this process. Some states, like New Jersey, do not have state wide adoption cycles. Each county or school district decides when to buy new books. These counties may choose to buy only used textbooks. When a new adoption comes around, they may buy the edition from the year before or two years before. Many subjects don't change drastically over the course of a few years so ordering older editions may be beneficial. Our biggest selling grammar and composition book was published in 1989! If you have children in school, it would be beneficial for you to find out if the state has an adoption cycle and what year they are on.
www.southeasterntextbooks.com
866-872-6657
866-952-6657
k12@southeasterntextbooks.com
In the mean time students are lugging these books around, spilling their cokes on them, using them as umbrellas in the rain and writing all over them. Not to mention the basic wear and tear from being shoved in lockers and backpacks. With all of this going on it is hard to believe that a book could last for 7 years, right? Well, most of them don't. This is where a used book company comes in. Yes, the school could order the books new again from the publisher but why waste that kind of money for a new class set? Schools buy used because the bulk of their textbook budget goes to buying those new books on the adoption cycle. So don't feel bad for the book publishers, they are still getting over 80% of the schools budgeted book money. In counties where they don't have a huge budget, used textbook buying can save them a lot and they can take that extra money and put it into another area. There have been counties that have been able to save art and music programs because of used textbook buying. Used textbook companies "fill in" what the schools need between adoptions.
There are a few exceptions to this process. Some states, like New Jersey, do not have state wide adoption cycles. Each county or school district decides when to buy new books. These counties may choose to buy only used textbooks. When a new adoption comes around, they may buy the edition from the year before or two years before. Many subjects don't change drastically over the course of a few years so ordering older editions may be beneficial. Our biggest selling grammar and composition book was published in 1989! If you have children in school, it would be beneficial for you to find out if the state has an adoption cycle and what year they are on.
www.southeasterntextbooks.com
866-872-6657
866-952-6657
k12@southeasterntextbooks.com
Mondays
It's always hard getting up on a Monday isn't it?
Anyway, on to today's textbook information. There has been a lot of talk lately about the rising costs of textbooks, especially college textbooks. While we don't expressly carry college texts we do understand the plight of the average college student. The inflation rate of textbooks has well surpassed the national inflation rate. In an article on MSNBC.com, dated Aug. of 2005, the prices of textbooks have risen at more than twice the rate of inflation. Textbook prices have increased by 186 percent since 1986. You can read the article here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8963920/
This article focuses mainly on college textbooks, but the same issues arise in texts for lower grades as well. What does this mean for your average student? It means that publishers are are adding supplemental materials such as software and online access. While these materials are great for a student, the problem lies in the extra cost that is placed on the student or school that is purchasing the books. Often times students do not take advantage of the supplemental materials when they are provided and in many cases the cd-roms that come with the books can only be used on one computer thus eliminating them for future book owners. This is a problem in schools, public schools especially, where books can be used for up to 7 years. Depending on if the school is on semesters, that can be anywhere from 7 to 14 students using any one book.
Here in lies the benefits of used textbooks. Often, a used textbook still contains the original supplemental material because the original owner didn't use it. Used textbook companies can often provide other supplementary materials such as workbooks or cd-roms that did not come with the original package. Most schools can not afford to buy new textbooks every semester (even private schools that usually have a little better funding) so the supplementary materials are lost anyway. Used books "fill in" the lost or damaged books between adoptions. A school could buy those books new, but would it be fair to students for half the class to have brand new books with the supplements and the other half have used books from previous semesters? If a school buys used, then all the students have access to the same materials. If a teacher is worried about missing out by not having the materials I would suggest contacting the publishing company to see about ordering extras. But again, this would cost money and have to be done every semester. Teachers could also go through the supplementary material and choose a few things from it to create exercises that students can do in class every semester.
The rising cost of textbooks is something almost everyone in this country will have to deal with at one point or another. This is a topic we will continue to discuss at some length.
www.southeasterntextbooks.com
866-872-6657
866-952-6657
k12@southeasterntextbooks.com
Anyway, on to today's textbook information. There has been a lot of talk lately about the rising costs of textbooks, especially college textbooks. While we don't expressly carry college texts we do understand the plight of the average college student. The inflation rate of textbooks has well surpassed the national inflation rate. In an article on MSNBC.com, dated Aug. of 2005, the prices of textbooks have risen at more than twice the rate of inflation. Textbook prices have increased by 186 percent since 1986. You can read the article here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8963920/
This article focuses mainly on college textbooks, but the same issues arise in texts for lower grades as well. What does this mean for your average student? It means that publishers are are adding supplemental materials such as software and online access. While these materials are great for a student, the problem lies in the extra cost that is placed on the student or school that is purchasing the books. Often times students do not take advantage of the supplemental materials when they are provided and in many cases the cd-roms that come with the books can only be used on one computer thus eliminating them for future book owners. This is a problem in schools, public schools especially, where books can be used for up to 7 years. Depending on if the school is on semesters, that can be anywhere from 7 to 14 students using any one book.
Here in lies the benefits of used textbooks. Often, a used textbook still contains the original supplemental material because the original owner didn't use it. Used textbook companies can often provide other supplementary materials such as workbooks or cd-roms that did not come with the original package. Most schools can not afford to buy new textbooks every semester (even private schools that usually have a little better funding) so the supplementary materials are lost anyway. Used books "fill in" the lost or damaged books between adoptions. A school could buy those books new, but would it be fair to students for half the class to have brand new books with the supplements and the other half have used books from previous semesters? If a school buys used, then all the students have access to the same materials. If a teacher is worried about missing out by not having the materials I would suggest contacting the publishing company to see about ordering extras. But again, this would cost money and have to be done every semester. Teachers could also go through the supplementary material and choose a few things from it to create exercises that students can do in class every semester.
The rising cost of textbooks is something almost everyone in this country will have to deal with at one point or another. This is a topic we will continue to discuss at some length.
www.southeasterntextbooks.com
866-872-6657
866-952-6657
k12@southeasterntextbooks.com
Friday, February 23, 2007
Introduction
This blog is sponsored by Southeastern Textbooks, a used textbook company in Georgia. We started this blog to spread the word about buying used textbooks.
Most people out there know about websites like Amazon and Half.com. Some of you may even know about Alibris, ecampus.com and bookbyte. How much do you know about other used textbook places? Do you know about the companies out there that sell textbooks to your son's or daughter's schools? No? Have you ever thought about where the textbooks come from that students use in school? Many people haven't.
The truth is that the textbooks that your children use come from companies like ours. Companies that provide quality new and used textbooks to schools all over the country. We provide all subjects, kindergarten through twelfth grade to public, private and home schooled children everywhere. We provide an important service to schools, especially those who suffer from budget cuts and crises. By buying used books schools can save more than 50% off the publishers list price and thus use that money in other areas where it is needed.
Want to learn more? Check back for updates on saving taxes by buying used, how used textbooks are good for the economy and how used books help improve your children's school system.
www.southeasterntextbooks.com
866-872-6657
Fax 866-952-6657
Most people out there know about websites like Amazon and Half.com. Some of you may even know about Alibris, ecampus.com and bookbyte. How much do you know about other used textbook places? Do you know about the companies out there that sell textbooks to your son's or daughter's schools? No? Have you ever thought about where the textbooks come from that students use in school? Many people haven't.
The truth is that the textbooks that your children use come from companies like ours. Companies that provide quality new and used textbooks to schools all over the country. We provide all subjects, kindergarten through twelfth grade to public, private and home schooled children everywhere. We provide an important service to schools, especially those who suffer from budget cuts and crises. By buying used books schools can save more than 50% off the publishers list price and thus use that money in other areas where it is needed.
Want to learn more? Check back for updates on saving taxes by buying used, how used textbooks are good for the economy and how used books help improve your children's school system.
www.southeasterntextbooks.com
866-872-6657
Fax 866-952-6657
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