Used Textbook Association

1. What is the purpose of the Used Textbook Association?
2. What led to the idea to create a Used Textbook Association?
3. NACS has been very effective in serving the needs of bookstore. Why did the founding members decide to create the Used Textbook Association?
4. Is the Used Textbook Association really a self-serving organization designed to protect bottom line of textbook wholesalers?
5. Paying due to NACS, our regional association, and the UTA is too much for my bookstore to handle. Why are you requiring us to pay dues?
6. I am concerned that the UTA will be distributing negative information about publishers and by our joining the UTA we will be placed in an adversarial relationship that we don't want. What are your plans in regard to the publishers?
7. With two of the major players in the used textbook industry, MBS and Follett, not participating in the UTA, I am concerned that the Association will not be as strong of an influence. What is your response?
8. Inventory quotas are placed on re-adopted textbooks at end of the semester, therefore, once buyback quotas are met, students no longer receive 50% of the price of a new book. Is this a flaw in the Used Textbook Association's message about timely adoption practices and appropriate business practices among publishers and will it present a credibility problem?

Answers

• What is the purpose of the Used Textbook Association? The Used Textbook Association was formed to advocate the role and value of used textbooks in the marketplace and in turn, increase the supply of used textbooks available to students. The Association works with bookstore managers to support their efforts to inform students and faculty members on the buy-back process, improve the rate of early adoptions by faculty members, and ensure textbook merchandising practices are appropriate and meeting the goals of higher learning.
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• What led to the idea to create a Used Textbook Association? One of the most effective ways to reduce the cost of textbooks for students is for the industry to have a robust used textbook market. However, there was no advocate for used textbooks and the important role they play in higher education. Textbook affordability for students is affected greatly by market forces including increased frequency of new editions, unnecessary bundling of course materials, and untimely textbook adoption rates by faculty which have combined to create an industry-wide issue of fewer used textbooks and rising costs. In response, we have spearheaded the launch of a used textbook association designed to provide new strategies to campus bookstores to promote and enhance the role and value of used textbooks as a solution in textbook affordability. We believe an association in support of used textbooks can help develop a marketplace solution to the issue.
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• NACS has been very effective in serving the needs of bookstore. Why did the founding members decide to create the Used Textbook Association?It is common in almost every industry to have an association represent its members on important issues. We believe that increased frequency of unnecessary: new editions, unnecessary bundling of course materials, and built- in obsolescence, and along with untimely textbook adoption rates by faculty continue to drive -up the cost of textbooks and it is paramount to form an association that specifically addresses these very important issues. Since 1986, textbook prices have increased by 186% – -- while inflation has risen by 72% (GOA Report, July 2005). The average college student pays $850 a year for textbooks and supplies. In addition, based on a Harris Interactive study of US college students, more than half of the students said these costs pose an extremely difficult or very difficult financial burden for them.
  
  The used textbook offers a marketplace solution to the issue of rising textbook prices, however, there has been no clear unified message coming from the used textbook industry to showcase the value of used textbooks and provide factual information to highlight the value of used textbooks.
  
  The Used Textbook Association's mission is to advocate the role and value of used textbooks in the marketplace and is working toward a marketplace solution to the problem of textbook affordability while still providing students with high-quality educational materials.
  
  We are committed to partnering with NACS to further promote the message of used textbooks.
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• Is the Used Textbook Association really a self-serving organization designed to protect bottom line of textbook wholesalers?No. It is common in almost every industry to have an association represent its members on important issues. The Used Textbook Association was formed to support the needs of bookstores and help in their efforts to help communicate this message. The intention of the founding members is to actively involve bookstore managers in the strategies and tactics utilized to communicate the role and value of used textbooks to achieve textbook affordability. In addition, we hope to turn the Association over to bookstore managers to operate and manage within several years of creation.
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• Paying due to NACS, our regional association, and the UTA is too much for my bookstore to handle. Why are you requiring us to pay dues? For the Used Textbook Association to be effective, we need financial support. However, we also recognize that joining all three associations can be a financial challenge for some bookstores. As a result, we have set low membership dues rates.
  
  Our intention is to build a member centric association and to provide you with clear value for your dues. Our current programs are designed to increase the availability of used textbooks in your bookstore through providing you with tools to improve adoption practices and educate students on the importance of buyback.
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• I am concerned that the UTA will be distributing negative information about publishers and by our joining the UTA we will be placed in an adversarial relationship that we don't want. What are your plans in regard to the publishers?Publishers are essential to providing educational materials to meet the classroom needs of faculty in order for students to receive a quality education. The used textbook industry would not exist without them. However, the availability of used textbooks has unnecessarily decreased over the past several years and survey results show that over 80% of the students prefer used textbooks. The goal of UTA is to put out unbiased, factual information on how textbook affordability can be achieved without sacrificing the quality of education for the student This information will include strategies and tactics to improve adoption practices on campuses and address fair and appropriate business practices among the publishers regarding current practices of new editions and bundling.
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• With two of the major players in the used textbook industry, MBS and Follett, not participating in the UTA, I am concerned that the Association will not be as strong of an influence. What is your response?The founding members are committed to success of the Used Textbook Association. We are aggressively working to build membership and develop solid positions with firm ground in the marketplace. We are confident that we will be successful in promoting used textbooks as a marketplace solution.
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• Inventory quotas are placed on re-adopted textbooks at end of the semester, therefore, once buyback quotas are met, students no longer receive 50% of the price of a new book. Is this a flaw in the Used Textbook Association's message about timely adoption practices and appropriate business practices among publishers and will it present a credibility problem?There are cases where that does occur. However, we believe that by increasing the rate of timely adoptions, overall, students will get more money back at the buyback counter. They will be able to sell-back more textbooks at a higher rate and bookstores will be able to then provide a greater supply of used textbooks the following term.
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