By Patricia Brotzel and Neetu Thind
Before students pick up their new textbooks, they may want to consider other options to cut the cost of course materials.
Students at Toronto’s Ontario College of Art and Design University are protesting the costs of a required, unillustrated art history textbook priced at $180.
A town hall is being organized to discuss the controversy after a petition circulating the campus accumulated over 500 signatures, according to the Toronto Star.
Debby Martin, manager of Humber north campus bookstore, told Humber News she understands the financial burden of textbooks.
“When I went to school over 35 years ago, I complained about the materials. That’s why we introduced rent-a-text, e-books and used books. We realize and sympathize that it is very expensive to go to school, and to be successful you need new course materials in your hands,” Martin said.
She said the bookstore works to provide students with a variety of options.
“It comes down to giving the students more choices. Today we have used textbooks where you can save up to 25 per cent. We have rent-a- text where you can save 50 per cent and we have more and more E-books with Cafe Scribe options, so there’s savings there – anywhere from 20 to 50 per cent.”
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