Associate Executive Director's Messages
- September 2008 - Authors need to share their view of the textbook cost controversy
- May 2008 - Member feedback, participation welcomed
- February 2008 - Keep talking, we're listening
September 2008
Authors need to share their view of the textbook cost controversy
I have been reading the various online articles regarding textbook piracy, used books, the high cost of textbooks, etc., and the comments on these articles (mostly by students). I have found that a few common currents run through each of these articles, and that many of them include information that is simply taken as fact from previous articles, comments made by the media, someone interviewed for the article, or other students, professors, etc.
Some of those common elements include:
- Publishers churn out revised textbooks with little or no change from the previous editions and then sell them for more than the previous edition. This is done to thwart the used book market.
- Professors choose textbooks with little thought for how much they cost or how useful they will be for their students. They object to choosing a textbook based solely on cost only because many of them write textbooks themselves.
- Students are the champions in every story; the Robin Hood of the education industry. They are "fighting" the establishment and finding "creative" (and of course not illegal) ways to "combat" (get around) paying for expensive textbooks. They are heroes, creating used book swapping websites, scanning print textbooks and making them available to fellow students, etc.
- Websites that offer used books at discounted prices are also the heroes. "They are scouring the nation for used books and offering them to students at low, low prices."
- Used books and textbook piracy of e-books is "hitting print textbook publishers hard". They are coming out swinging with new editions (that are barely distinguishable from the previous ones).
The public arguments by publishers and authors against these claims have been thin. TAA and its members need to combat the misinformation repeated in the media with some equally compelling statements. The "other side" is using the human issue of the poor student struggling to pay for their education and the burden of textbooks. We need to use the human issue of the author and his or her motivations for writing textbooks, and uncover the truths behind all the misconceptions currently being repeated in media articles on this issue.
After working with authors for almost 15 years, I know that they sacrifice much of their free time and family time to produce a textbook that will help students learn a subject. Many do so with little profit. They begin working on revisions shortly after a book has been completed; researching new developments in their field and building a file of new content to be included in the next edition. The number one reason authors cite for writing a textbook is that they thought they could offer a new perspective on the subject. The second is that there was no textbook currently available on that subject. Students need to know the reality of what authors make from their textbooks. Most aren't driving around in BMWs on their royalties. View a recent Q&A with new and veteran authors at the 2008 TAA Conference: Click here
Perhaps we need to delve into how professors choose textbooks (with a survey maybe) to see if it is as random an act as the media portrays it to be. They always seem to quote professors who say they can't find a good textbook for their course, or say their students are disinterested in reading the textbook. We need to quote professors who carefully choose quality textbooks and use them in their courses and how those textbooks enhance student learning. I would welcome any insight you can offer into how you choose a textbook for your course, when you make that decision, and how much cost is a factor in that choice (e-mail me at kim.pawlak@taaonline.net)
Students need to understand that their efforts are not decreasing the cost of textbooks but raising it. For every used book that is sold, the publisher and creator of that work receives nothing. The used book industry is not some "do gooder" out to help the student save money, but to make money themselves. They buy books at a fraction of their original cost and sell them at a huge profit. A profit that goes directly in their pockets, and not a dime goes back to the publisher or creator of that work. Some even sell complimentary copies, which no one ever paid for, and others sell Instructor's Editions, which should never make it into students' hands.
Students need to be educated about how the textbook industry works. The publishing industry image has been tarnished in their eyes, and publishers need to make efforts to market to this group. What is the value of a textbook? Why should students keep their textbooks rather than sell them? Why do publishers print revised versions of textbooks? What goes into producing a textbook? The marketing needs to be done on the students' level.
Whether print, electronic, digital, or some other future distribution tool, the content needs to first be created. That is the element that gets lost in all the hype over the cost of textbooks. The argument that we need to move toward electronic books so that they can eventually be offered free to students misses the role of content creation. While some professors may want to labor over a textbook for free, they will not be able to distribute it by any means for free. If they don't pass on the cost of distributing it to the consumer, they will absorb the cost of a website, the time it takes to maintain it, and the time it takes to update the content of the book. How many professors are going to want to do that over time? Students need to be reminded of the old adage: "You get what you pay for."
I welcome your thoughts and discussion on this issue.
Kim Pawlak,
TAA
Associate Executive Director
May
2008
Member feedback, participation welcomed
Starting in February, we began publishing The Academic Author monthly, rather than quarterly. I hope that you are enjoying the more frequent issues of your member newsletter, and that it has helped you stay more connected to TAA and your authoring. We welcome your comments about the newsletter, and would appreciate any suggestions for content. You can also submit articles for publication. We are accepting submissions of how-to articles, Writer's Block essays (essays on the writing life), columns (on textbook and academic authoring issues such as used books, open access, comp copies, etc.), and member news (you published a book, journal article, or other educational work; received a promotion or an award; etc.). For more information, or for writer's guidelines, contact me at kim.pawlak@taaonline.net
You may have noticed that we have begun sending TAA News Alerts, our bi-monthly e-newsletters, via a Constant Contact html-based service rather than through the TAA Listserv. This decision was based on the feedback we received from members, who said they wanted to receive the News Alerts, but didn't want to receive messages from the Listserv, and they couldn't get one without the other. We also wanted to send TAA News Alerts in a more attractive, easy-to-read format. We hope you like the new News Alert format, and welcome your feedback.
TAA began holding bi-monthly teleconferences on March 6. They have so far received high ratings. A participant of the first teleconference, "Publish & Flourish: Become A Prolific Scholar", moderated by Tara Gray, said: "It was great!!! Thanks Tara Gray and TAA!" "I was surprised -- agreeably so -- by the small number of participants so that there could be individual attention and participation, and feel I've already received full benefit from membership and am recommending this to others. I'm glad I found you! Thank you." A participant of the second teleconference, "Royalty Q&A" moderated by Paul Rosenzweig said: "Thank you TAA for hosting the Royalty Q&A teleconference. I learned some useful information about royalty issues, especially how authors should negotiate clauses in contracts that permit the authors to review the books to ensure royalty statements are accurate. I look forward to future TAA teleconferences." A participant of the third teleconference, "A Coach's Perspective on Finishing Your Dissertation," moderated by Dave Harris, said: "Dave Harris offers a valuable perspective that doctoral students working on their dissertation need to hear. He provides important insights to help students get the most out of this learning experience and his insights ring true. He clearly breaks down the dissertation process into its component parts and provides practical advice for every student working on a dissertation. What most resonated for me were his comments to stop researching and start writing, and his statement that there are many voices and opinions out there, so in putting your ideas on paper, there will be others who disagree. And that is okay. I think doctoral students at any stage of their dissertation process will benefit from Dave Harris' teleconference."
(The last two teleconferences, "Don't Settle for A Publisher's Standard Contract: Terms You Can & Should Negotiate," moderated by Stephen Gillen, and "Tips and Tricks for the Do-It-Yourself Indexer," moderated by Seth Maislin, were held after press time.)
You can listen to recordings of all of the teleconferences here on the TAA website: Click here. More teleconferences are being planned for fall. If you would like to moderate a teleconference, or have a suggestion for a topic, please email me at kim.pawlak@taaonline.net or call me at (608) 687-3106.
We recently sent out a Member Survey via email. I would like to thank those of you who have already responded. I encourage the rest of you to take a few moments and fill out the survey. A print copy of the survey has been included in this issue. This information will help us shape future member benefits and services, and restructure current member benefits and services to better serve you. This is your association and we want you to be part of its growth and development. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kim Pawlak,
TAA
Associate Executive Director
February
2008
Keep talking, we're listening
In print and email surveys that we conducted bettween September 2007 and January 2008, some TAA members told us they found The Academic Author to be one of the most valuable member benefits, while others said it was printed too infrequently.
As a result of that feedback, we have decided to begin publishing The Academic Author monthly rather than quarterly, starting this issue (except in the months of July and August).
This is just one example of the changes we have made in member communication and services in the past year, most of which were a result of member feedback. Here are several more:
• Grants of up to $750 for publication costs associated with publishing a scholarly article of book
• Free mentoring via an online mentoring directory that allows members to match themselves with veteran academic and textbook authors
• Authoring advice and insight via a new "How-to" section, more frequent postings of Q&A's to "Authors Asking", and essays on writing in the "Writer's Block" section
• An expanded "Busy TAA People" section, which allows members to get to know one another through member profiles, and by sharing their news, as well as links to their personal and professional website addresses
• A more active TAA Listerv, TAA's members-only email discussion list. If you are not receiving postings, please contact me so that we can make sure that you are subscribed. Post messages to taa@mail-list.com
I hope that you will continue to provide us with feedback, both by responding to surveys, and by contacting us directly at TEXT@tampabay.rr.com or (727) 563-0020. We're listening.
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