It is a chronic issue that every first couple of weeks of the semester, students hope that their books for class will be cheap or try to buy cheaper used books from their friends or online. Unfortunately, relatively few students really do find most of their books for cheap. The rest, whether they like it or not, have to head to the bookstore with their head down, thinking about the larger-than-life financial problems students face. According to research by College Board, in the United States between 2010 and 2011, college text books and other subsidiary supplies cost students an average of about $1,000 annually. For students whose parents fork out 40 grand for their kids’ education every year, college text book prices are just a drop in the bucket. But for those students who work to pay off their education fees, an extra $1,000 in addition to all the tuition costs is really a pain.

Depending on a country’s culture and the individual school’s policies, students have come out with a selection of ideas for getting their academic books as cheaply as possible. For example, in countries like the U.S.A. and Canada, schools have a system in place in which bookstores are ordered to buy students’ old books at a cheap price that is just enough to make a profit after selling it back to other students. By contrast, schools in countries like Korea and Mongolia do not do students many favors. College students have to find their own ways to buy cheap books through individuals or on the Internet.

There are a number of possible options including online shopping for used books, creating a used book selection in school bookstores, and using tablet computers like the Galaxy pad, the iPad or Amazon’s Kindle as an all-in-one online book station. These options have spread to certain universities and among students, but have yet to have a significant effect on society.

Most students turn to the Internet first to buy used books. It is certainly fast and students can usually find their desired books at a low price, anywhere and anytime. In BNET.com’s Moneywatch section, business writer Lynn O’Shaughnessy says the most expensive academic book, the $1,450 Acta Philosophorum The First Journal of Philosophy can be found for just $184 online. Another alternative is to buy a tablet computer. It is a great way to access books worldwide by downloading content on the Internet. Plus, downloaded books are cheaper and more portable than big, hardback college books. Hopefully, this steadily growing technology will one day allow students to browse school books on a single pad.

Another way of creating a cheap book system would be for schools to encourage their bookstores to buy students’ old books that are still used in contemporary classes. This way, students can earn extra money to invest in their future academic book purchases, while other students can find a good deal on their required books easily. Students could save time, energy, and money right from their school. Of course, there will always be a certain number of used books on the shelves of the bookstore. Therefore, students who are diligent enough on their studies can go to the bookstore and find their required books. This method is fair, more systematic, and more democratic.

“Of course, since it is a convenient and cheap way to buy books, I love the idea,” said KMU freshman Hyon Ji-yon. The Kookminian also supports the idea. However, circumstances make the realization of this idea at KMU difficult.

“First of all, it’s too complicated to create a new section for used books in the store,” said KMU bookstore manager Mr. Choi Jae-ho. “It requires textbook publishers, the bookstore’s owner, and school officials’ meetings for the proceeding contract on the used book section. Secondly, its costly budget and the current situation in the fully occupied working limit make the concept impractical at the moment at KMU. But we are not dismissing the idea completely.”

Review hopes that schools will take the idea into consideration or at least find a better way to provide students with cheaper academic books and healthy study conditions.

Cub Reporter Javkhlantugs Byambaa (JV)

Mongolia@kookmin.ac.kr