Maria Bonn
Director, Scholarly Publishing Office
University of Michigan
Natsuko Nicholls
Research Associate
University of Michigan
The increasing financial burden of textbook purchases on undergraduates is well-documented and is a growing concern in the university community. In 2009, the University of Michigan Library undertook an analysis of the opportunities to help alleviate this burden with a special focus on the possible uses of digital publishing and networked resources. That analysis consisted of two major components: a business feasibility study to determine the costs and benefits (both financial and social) of three textbook related initiatives, and an in-depth survey, followed by extensive interviews, to better understand faculty attitudes and motives in the selection of textbooks and their willingness to consider adopting, contributing to and authoring alternatives to mainstream commercial textbooks. The findings reveal interesting differences across disciplines and various faculty demographics. This briefing will provide brief context for the study, report on the business feasibility study and give an overview of what has been learned, pointing to both opportunities for and barriers to change.