E-textbooks becoming more popular with publishers

With the release of Apple’s iPad,  software companies and textbook publishers are lining up to take advantage of the new technology.

But students might not be so ready to adapt.

ScrollMotion, a company that designs software for Apple Inc. devices, is the most recent to announce its intent to work with textbook publishers to format textbooks for use on the iPad.

“This is the first time you have the device, content and retail elements all at the same time,” said John Lema, CEO of New York-based ScrollMotion.

“I don’t think you could keep this from happening if you tried.”

McGraw-Hill, one of the country’s largest textbook publishers, has already made 1,300 digital textbooks available through CourseSmart, which UNC has a contract with.

Ninety-five percent of all its textbooks are available in some digital format, said Mary Skafidas, spokeswoman for McGraw-Hill.

Despite the optimism of software developers and textbook publishers, UNC students have yet to buy into the digital format.

Only 150 digital textbooks were sold by UNC Student Stores this semester, said Kelly Hanner, course materials manager.

“The technology is not completely developed yet,” Hanner said. “It’s a very new product for faculty and students. We are happy to offer it to those who are ready for it.”

Digital textbooks do offer some advantages. Typically, e-textbooks are about half of the price of a new print edition, Hanner said.

CourseSmart books also enable students to highlight, use tag notes and e-mail parts of the text to friends.

But e-textbooks have no resale value and students only have access to the books for a limited time.

“Essentially, students are renting the book for a period of time,” Skifidas said. “We get paid for each usage.”

This is a big plus for publishers, since they don’t profit when a traditional textbook is resold.

Hanner also said that not all students are comfortable with using computers.

“I don’t like reading off a screen,” said Angela Dixon, a junior psychology and political science major. “I like to highlight and take notes on the sides.”

And some students just don’t like carrying a computer around.

“I don’t always have my laptop,” said Erin Sanderson, a sophomore peace, war and defense and political science major.

“It’s more about the convenience of a book and the concreteness of a book.”

Skafidas acknowledged that the market for digital textbooks is small right now, but said it is fast growing and changing.

“E-textbooks are just the beginning for us.”



Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.