Two years ago, Akademos published the first comprehensive survey of College CFOs regarding the future of college textbooks and bookstore services and again in an exclusive webinar held on April 29th which had released the preliminary findings of the 2015 follow-up study.
In addition, when asked about the importance of various services to the "Future of your Bookstore"; 73% rated Rentals as "Very Important, up 26% from the 2013 study.
College textbook rentals are clearly on the rise, but is it the most cost-conscious choice for students? Robert Pignatello, SVP of Finance and Administration at CUNY’s John Jay college and Akademos' CEO, John Squires addressed this topic during the webinar.
“The net ownership cost of textbooks is a key consideration,” commented Squires.“Often, rentals have a lower up-front cost to the student but can be more expensive long term.”
Pignatello agreed, saying “We [college administrators] have an obligation to look at the total cost of ownership, and to help our students make the right choice. Often times, buying a used book and selling it will cost less than renting.”
To learn more about key trends & predictions on the future of college textbook sales and campus bookstore services, the full presentation and recording of our 2015 College CFO Survey on Textbook Affordability and Bookstore Services webinar session is now available for free.