Monthly Archives: May 2012

Frequently Asked Questions About the ISBN

Posted by Jules Mariano in Books, Textbooks |        on , | 2

ISBNThe International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is the worldwide standard for identifying exact books published all over the world. For students looking to buy school textbooks, these numbers are very important when they inquire at bookstores or libraries.

Publishing companies who want to release books need to register for an International Standard Book Number or ISBN to identify their books. This helps bookstores, libraries, teachers and students make sure that they are buying and selling the correct books. This is because these numbers are unique not just for every book, but for every edition as well.

Students like you might wonder why you need to understand what these numbers mean and how it really matters to you. Here are some frequently asked questions about the ISBN:

What do those numbers stand for?

The required numbers have increased from 10 to 13 last 2007. This is to allow for more books that can be assigned numbers, and to allow for more information to be represented by them.
These numbers really stand for unique identifiers. The new numbers all start with “978” to represent published books. Then the next digits that follow are country identifiers, which stand for the language the book is published in and the national group number. Afterwards comes the specific number to identify the publisher of the book. The next numbers will stand for the particular title and edition of the book. Rounding up is the check digit, which is used for validation. Just from these series of numbers, a bookstore can already track the language, the publisher and the exact title and edition.

Why do you need them?

If these are numbers mostly used to track textbooks, why do students like you need them? If you have ever tried purchasing or renting your textbook online, the very first thing you are asked to input is the ISBN number of your textbook. This number helps these bookstores store and keep track of inventory, as well as identify which books to sell you. For students, you need these numbers when you get your book list to ensure you will purchase the accurate book.

How do you get the ISBN number of the book?

First of all, publishers will need to register the book to be published with the corresponding agency in their country. They will be given these numbers, a barcode can also be assigned to facilitate selling, and these numbers can be seen in every copy of the book, usually along with the barcode.

If you need the code for a book you need for school, just ask your professor to be 100% sure.

This process is mainly a standardized way to register and monitor whatever book that gets published. By creating this system, you as a student is also benefitting whenever you purchase your school textbook.

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Solutions to High Cost of College Textbooks

Posted by Sette Capati in College, Textbooks |        on , , , , , , , | 7

College TextbooksThe solutions to high cost of college textbooks are recommended for college students who want to manage their textbook expenses. Spending too much on college textbooks is impractical because technology offers wide-range of alternatives of educational resources.

Organizations and universities work together to cut down textbook expenses. Publishers collaborate with universities to create models and programs for convenience and efficiency of the educational tools.

Online Textbooks

Universities are adapting online textbooks to manage the students’ expenses and venture with publishers. Online textbooks are accessible and student can read them anytime and anywhere portable devices.

Works of scholars and professors are collated and under the toll. Online textbooks are economical and advantageous. The texts are easily enhanced for downloading and provide exclusive access for college students. UM-CEHD launched their open catalog textbooks last April.

E-books

Digital publishing is skyrocketing. E-Books are the next best-sellers in the coming years. Organizations and universities see the potential of e-books as alternatives for student’s resources. Instead of printed textbooks, e-books can be read in PDF by students via portable devices like tablets, mobile phones, laptops, etc. You can buy e-book textbooks at a fraction of college printed textbook.

Two professors from Utah State University and Brigham Young University have published their own PDF versions of college textbooks.

Buy and Sell Textbooks

Buying college textbooks is expensive. There’s nothing wrong spending much on textbooks, but you can also sell them after you finish the curriculum. This will help other students who are in dire need of cheap textbooks for the next semester.

It is best to preserve textbooks for future use. You can sell directly to other students or use Bookgator to connect with other students who might be interested on your textbooks.

You can also post your textbooks online via Amazon, Half and eBay. Make sure you transact with buyers and sellers with high feedback ratings and shipping costs.

Textbook Rentals

Another solution to high cost of college textbooks is textbook rentals. Rent your textbooks at cheaper prices. There are reliable online bookstores that specialize in renting college textbooks. You will save tons of money instead of buying new ones. Use Bookgator, your social bookstore to find our great deals on textbook rentals.

Textbook Buyback

Sell your used textbooks for buybacks. Make sure your books are in good condition, if you’re not going to use those calculus and algebra textbooks, try textbook buyback for cash or credits on our online social bookstore.

Most online stores accept good condition books, no stains, odors or any rips or missing pages. Give value to your books and let help other students save money.

Do you have textbooks you want to trade or sell? Visit our online bookstore and see how it works. It’s easy and simple. You’ll get your books on time and save up to 90%.

[Photo credit: © Getty Images JupiterImage]

McGraw Hill’s E-Textbook Program Pilots at University of Minnesota

Posted by Jules Mariano in Books, Education, University |        on , , | 2
Old University of Minnesota House: The Northrop edition

Old University of Minnesota House: The Northrop edition

McGraw-Hill Higher Education is set to offer its catalog of e-textbooks to college students at the University of Minnesota beginning in the 2012 fall semester. The textbook publisher said the pilot program is aimed at making college textbooks more affordable and accessible.

The company also intends to use the program to establish a scalable model that will benefit the rising e-textbook industry. Conventionally, textbooks end up having expensive tag prices because bookstores include inventory and shelf-space charges in pricing. This service-fee model is expected to replace the prevailing shelf-space model.

The program will have most of the publisher’s college textbooks offered as e-books. Professors will still have the option whether to sign up their courses or not. Once they decide to participate, the e-textbooks will automatically be made accessible through the learning management system of the university, wherein students have their own accounts. The materials will also be made available through an online interface.

Lower costs

In general, e-books cost much less than hard copies. McGraw-Hill Higher Education’s standard rates for the virtual books are just about 40% of the hard-copy list price. The publisher said it will further lower that cost in the program.

The amount will automatically be billed to students as part of the course fee. That means college students will not have to worry much about the costs of their textbooks after paying their tuition. If a student decides to drop the course, he will not be charged for the e-book access but only if he formally processes the action on or prior to the deadline set for adding and dropping subjects.

Price and experience alternative

McGraw-Hill Higher Education wants to provide college students with price and experience alternative. The company said it aims to help students succeed through completing their college education. But affordability of textbooks is always a problem.

Attrition rate for general education courses remains high across the US. The textbook publisher thinks this can be because many students lag behind their reading due to inevitable delays in buying their books. Logically, some students fail to catch up after finally getting their copies of textbooks. If e-textbooks are automatically provided, the company added, no student would fall behind the reading requirements in classes.

Greater accessibility

The e-textbooks can be accessed and retrieved through different platforms. McGraw-Hill Higher Education said the materials will eventually be made accessible through various e-text readers to enable students to read even without Internet connection.

The University of Minnesota currently uses Courseload. The e-text reader facilitates online interaction with professors and classmates. It also enables users to send feedbacks to textbook authors. Other e-text readers facilitate assessments, adaptive learning functions, and even social networking applications.

Paper or printed versions of the textbooks will still be made available for those who prefer such materials. It is expected that this e-textbook program will serve as a precedence for other universities and textbook publishers, who intend to work together to make higher education costs more affordable to students.

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Texas Aims to Make Higher Education More Accessible

Posted by Jules Mariano in Textbooks |        on , | 1comment

texas flagIn May 2012, the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) announced its plans to offer a $10,000-degree in response to greater calls to make tertiary education cheaper and more accessible. The new degree will focus more on mathematics and sciences, which are considered as critical to the state’s future.

UTPB followed other schools, which are now offering bachelor’s degree programs costing no more than $10,000. Those include Texas A&M–Commerce, Texas A&M–San Antonio and UNT–Dallas, which has a weekend MBA program that costs $10,000 per student.

Making higher education cheaper and more accessible to students across Texas is a priority of Governor Rick Perry. He thinks doing so is very important in the state’s objective to remain as an economic as well as job creation leader in the entire US. Furthermore, Gov. Perry believes that obtaining a college degree is a key to improving the overall quality of one’s life.

Determined efforts

Gov. Perry in 2009 called for a review of possible cost savings at colleges and universities in the state. In November 2010, the Report on Higher Education Cost Efficiencies was released. It outlined several recommendations that would possibly save about $4.3 billion within four years.

Following that review, the state government passed legislations that aim to help somehow lower costs of higher education. Universities across the state were directed to appropriately fix tuition rates especially for transferring students from a two-year college. There were also policies that intend to make textbooks more affordable and to further lower education costs through elimination of duplication of courses in universities.

There are other measures done at the state legislative level to help make college education more accessible. Developmental education was improved and broadened to enable students to find and choose colleges, majors, and courses that they think are right and appropriate for them.

Aggressive target

In 2000, Texas lagged behind the list of 10 most populated states in terms of proportion of college enrollees. It prompted the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop and implement a strategic plan, dubbed as ‘Closing the Gaps.’ The on-going program aims to challenge higher education institutions across the state to increase the volume of college enrollees by up to 500,000 within 15 years.

Not surprisingly, Closing the Gaps has been well received by taxpayers, policymakers, and students and their families. In 2005, the target was raised. The program now aims to increase the number of college enrollees by up to 630,000 by 2015.

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Buy Used Textbooks and Save the Environment

Posted by Jules Mariano in Textbooks |        on , | 12

tree logsEco-conscious individuals are constantly looking for ways to help save the environment. College students who share the same advocacy logically prefer to buy used textbooks instead of new. Doing so can significantly help save the environment in several ways. If more students will be more environmentally conscious to opt to purchase and use second-hand copies of books, they will surely make a difference.

Buying used books is known as an effective and sure way to save money. Students who purchase and use second-hand reference materials rave about having to lower textbook costs by up to 50% or even more. The practice is now known for bringing about a huge environmental impact. Here are some insights.

Saving more trees that need to be cut down

According to estimates by the experts, about 4 million trees are usually cut down every year to print new books. Imagine how many trees can be spared if the total number of textbooks that have to be printed or produced can be lowered. If about half of all the students in your university will opt to buy used textbooks each school year, it will equate to so many trees that may be spared from being cut just to print new copies of books.

If used books will circulate and be continuously useful to as many students in its lifetime, the need to cut trees for printing new copies will be reduced. Used textbooks may still be sold to second-hand bookstores after the semester. This way, the reading materials will continue to be useful and important to as many students as possible.

Reducing pollution brought about by the printing process

Students who buy used textbooks every semester also help trim down the amount of possible pollution that is commonly created in the printing process. Needless to say, the procedure of massive manufacturing of paper and ink pollutes the water, air, and land we live in.

Logically, those who purchase second-hand textbooks help eliminate and lower the impact of printing to the level of environmental pollution. And the decision to buy used textbooks can also somehow translate to lower carbon emission from fuel usage. Used books can be found and bought at local or campus bookstores whereas new textbooks have to be shipped from the publisher’s headquarters to the bookstores. Shipping of course is a process that requires burning of fuel, which in turn contributes to carbon emission to the environment.

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5 Great Websites to Buy, Rent and Sell New & Used Textbooks

Posted by Jules Mariano in Textbooks |        on , | 2

stacks of textbooksWhen you buy anything online like textbooks, the biggest consideration is the reputation and reliability of that site. After all, you want to get the best value for your money and the best buying experience.

Online bookstores have become popular recently for students to buy textbooks online and save money at the same time. In the Web, they can find new or used books for purchase, or books for rent if they do not wish to buy their own copy. eTextbooks are also very popular now that students have eBook readers.

If you are a student wanting to buy textbooks online, start by looking at these great websites that have helped many students like you:

BookGator – this site combines an online bookstore and your favorite social networking site. With features like connecting with other students to trade or sell textbooks directly, and your own online bookstore to track your book purchases, they add the social to your usual online bookstore. BookGator offers selling and buying of new and used textbooks as well.

Half – this site is owned as well by eBay, but specifically a site to sell or find textbooks for rent. For students who want to buy textbooks online but are worried about unreliable sellers, you can use the eBay feedback system to read feedback of former buyers.

eCampus – this site offers students like you with all the options for textbooks – buying used or new books, renting textbooks and even eTextbooks. They have a feature that allows you to compare prices across different options for you. eCampus also buys back used textbooks from students.

Chegg – this site’s niche is renting textbooks. They promote the saving of trees by renting textbooks instead of buying them. If you have old textbooks, you may also sell them so they have more books to rent out. The best thing about Chegg is that they will shoulder the shipping of returning your rented book. They also offer eTextbooks as an alternative to printed textbooks.

Amazon – this is easily a reputable site for buying anything. But they also have a great selection of textbooks, new or used, for students looking to find great deals on textbooks. Selling your textbooks is also easy to do with this site.

Most online shoppers are very wary about where they buy stuff online, and students on a budget are no exception. Textbooks are already expensive enough, and they are definitely on the lookout for the cheapest books overall (considering shipping and other fees) and sites that are the easiest to buy from. Thankfully, there are already sites like the 5 mentioned above that have gained reputations for making it easy for students to buy textbooks online at low prices.

Online Textbooks Downloads Trending

Posted by Sette Capati in Books, College, Textbooks |        on , , , , | 8

woman-typing-on-laptop-online-textbooksThe elimination of printed college textbooks is inevitable in digital age as online textbooks downloads are becoming popular to college students. Considering the high costs of college textbooks, they look for alternative ways for reliable resources.

Two professors from different universities offered an interesting textbook model to manage the textbook expenses. They offer free downloads of online textbooks on the internet. Larry Walther, a Utah State University professor and chairman of Jon M. Hunstman School of Business’ School of Accountancy and Kenneth Kuttler, a Brigham Young University math teacher provided texts on their personal websites.

Walther and Kuttler’s online textbooks can are available on through Bookboon; a London-based company that offers free downloads inclusive of ads in every few pages. The company contacted these professors after they found the websites and was attracted to the real-time model.

Walther encourages the visitors on his website to ask questions for the student’s learning progress through the electronic setting. The model gives him assurance that students understand the texts. The information he provides is free of charge. Payments are made in cases by case basis.

Kuttler has a pre-calculus textbook online available through World Center of Mathematics for only $10 as PDF download. With a writer’s point of view, revisions for online textbooks are fast. This will benefit students to stay on the current industry standards.

Online textbooks are changing the classroom setting from tedious into robust and practical ways to finish a degree in college.

If you’re looking for cheap textbooks, you can visit Bookgator for deals.

What are your thoughts on free textbooks downloads?

[Photo credit: Jamie Grill Getty Images]

 

Non-profit Foundation Pushes Enhanced Online Search For Textbooks

Posted by Sette Capati in College, Education, Textbooks, University |        on , , , , , , , , | 26

Do we need to make an obituary for printed textbooks? Is this really the time to say good-bye to traditional textbooks as digital books and online textbooks ascend the heights of education?

Non-profit 20 Million Minds Foundation (20MM) in collaboration with Akademos announced the launch of a faculty-based textbook search tool allowing the faculty to search and determine the books for students based on faculty peer reviews, student affordability and content quality.

20 Million Minds Foundation supports the creation and sharing of quality textbooks, embracing new technological advances to provide open educational resources and higher-education models. Together with Akademos, a leader in integrated online bookstores recently launched their new adoption tool, a virtual site of abundant resources for professors, teachers and school administrators.

Both organizations are eager to launch this comprehensive online portal for textbooks to combat the high costs for college students. Akademos will power the 20MM search engine and promised to include the Open Academics textbooks catalog – a new initiative by the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development for worldwide access of college textbooks.

The 20MM and Akademos partnership will benefit professors and course coordinators in viewing the available resources gathered by the search engine tool. This will also give them the chance to compare textbooks and course materials on the given subjects.

Universities are adapting online textbooks and e-books as course materials, and it is possible that in not so distant future, printed college textbooks and paperback books will be considered “things of the past.”

For cheap online textbooks and deals you can visit our store Bookgator.com Tell us what you think about online textbooks.

[Photo credit: Ed Yourdon Creative Commons]

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Institution-Wide Program Goes Digital for Scalable e-Books

Posted by Sette Capati in Books, College, Education, Textbooks, University |        on , , , , , , , , , | 12

Electronic books and textbooks online involve partnerships and business ventures today. Apparently, the ventures are not limited to business and technology but evidently involve the education sector. McGraw-Hill Education, a leading content, software and serviced-based education company partnered with University of Minnesota Bookstores for distribution of digital content to thousands of college students.

The partnership leverages on the strength of the University’s bookstore, creating a new business model that will aid college students get scalable university-level e-books at affordable and cheaper prices than the traditional college textbooks.

Timely to the UM CEHD launching of online textbook catalog, McGraw-Hill Higher Education has come one step closer to reaching the tipping point of digital publishing as reputable universities and publishers take the challenge of distributing online textbooks and materials to cut the expenses of college printed textbooks.

In this two-year partnership, McGraw-Hill Education will provide its comprehensive catalog of e-books and adaptive education products to the University of Minnesota students at a considerably discount rate. The university’s bookstore that has access to all enrollment information and course materials assigned for each curriculum – it will identify the digital materials each professor requires for each class for students.

The bill will be charged in the student’s account automatically. This will save him from the high cost of printed college textbooks and provide immediate access to the course content via college learning management system on any browser-enabled device.

The partnership reinforces the relationship of McGraw-Hill Education to the university’s bookstore. Embracing this new program deliberately bring advantages to college students using online textbooks and e-books to increase productivity and performance.

This new e-book program will kick-off in the fall 2012 semester.

Have you tried using online textbooks? Before the next semester starts, make sure you have your complete set of required textbooks.

If you’re looking for cheap textbooks online, you can visit Bookgator.com for great deals and discount rates.

[Photo credit: Thomas Bynum]

Online Textbooks Utilize in Math Classes

Posted by Sette Capati in Education, School, Student, Textbooks |        on , , , , , , | 8

Schools are smartly utilizing technology using online textbooks in classrooms as reliable resources into the curriculum. Online textbooks provide numerous benefits for students. Open content textbooks are offered in universities across the country. The convenience and accessibility they offer are priceless, saving students from high costs of printed textbooks.

This coming September 2012, fewer students will be toting home bulky math textbooks in their backpacks. Kevin Brogioli, Junior High Principal told the ORR Regional District School Committee that in September, students in some math classes will be utilizing online textbooks.

These textbooks online are regularly updated unlike the printed math textbooks or paper backs used for multiple years with outdated content. This is great news for students, and most likely the learning experience will be more interactive and exciting. Online textbooks are becoming popular in education. Seemingly, the usage of textbooks online will be established in the coming years.

Students are already using a selection of online resources, including the ORR Math Website, graphic calculators and SAT practice links. The school is planning to climb the next step in utilization of online textbooks on iPads and tablets in the classroom. The classroom scene is changing. A school like Burlington His School is already training the students with iPads for homework use and daily classroom activities.

The Old Rochester Regional School Committee oversees the ORR Junior High School (grades 7-8) and High School (grades 9-12). The organization is responsible in providing educational services for students living in towns of Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester Massachusetts.

Are you looking for cheap Math online textbooks? For more information, you can visit Bookgator.com

[Photo credit: Edukwest]