E-textbooks now available
Reflects commitment to containing student costs
Date: August 21, 2007
Department: Administrative & Fiscal Services
The University Campus Store at UMass Dartmouth will provide students with downloadable eBooks, a cost-saving electronic alternative to printed textbooks, for selected digitally available titles, beginning with the fall semester.
"The Campus Store's decision to participate in the digital textbook program reflects a deep commitment to delivering a proactive response to the high cost of textbooks discussion," said store manager Catherine Hickey. "We believe that introducing a lower-priced electronic textbook option, in addition to the new and used print versions of certain titles, offers students an important choice when it comes to both price and learning environment."
eBooks versions of the text offer students the opportunity to save up to 40 percent off the new book price. Unlike printed textbooks, which may or may not have buyback value at the end of the term, eBooks offer up-front savings at the time of purchase and are not subject to buyback. Other advantages include:
- Downloadable eBooks can travel with a student's laptops.
- eBooks provide an interactive experience where students can search the text, highlight, take notes and make comments, and print selections as desired.
- Many eBooks also offer read-out-loud capability.
- Most eBooks never expire and have no printing limitations. A few titles expire 12 months after download and restrict printing to 100 pages per week.
eBooks are available to students as cards, similar to electronic gift cards and phone service cards, and can be obtained in the Campus Store textbook department. A student who chooses to purchase an eBook will present the card to the cashier, who activates the card by swiping it at the register.
The student can then download the book by visiting www.DigitalTextbooks.net. There are currently more than 1,600 titles in the Universal Digital Textbooks program, with more being added all of the time.
The information contained within eBooks is copyright protected in accordance with Digital Rights Management rules. These rules protect intellectual property by allowing a single download to a single computer, setting the length of time that the book can be accessed on the computer (ranging from 12 months to unlimited availability, depending on the publisher), and using an encoding technique that prevents file sharing. While students cannot share eBooks, they can make backup copies to prevent data loss in case of computer failure.
To purchase an eBook, or for more information about this money-saving option, visit the University Campus Store. For activation or questions about your Universal Digital Textbook log on to www.DigitalTextbooks.net.
"The Campus Store's decision to participate in the digital textbook program reflects a deep commitment to delivering a proactive response to the high cost of textbooks discussion," said store manager Catherine Hickey. "We believe that introducing a lower-priced electronic textbook option, in addition to the new and used print versions of certain titles, offers students an important choice when it comes to both price and learning environment."
eBooks versions of the text offer students the opportunity to save up to 40 percent off the new book price. Unlike printed textbooks, which may or may not have buyback value at the end of the term, eBooks offer up-front savings at the time of purchase and are not subject to buyback. Other advantages include:
- Downloadable eBooks can travel with a student's laptops.
- eBooks provide an interactive experience where students can search the text, highlight, take notes and make comments, and print selections as desired.
- Many eBooks also offer read-out-loud capability.
- Most eBooks never expire and have no printing limitations. A few titles expire 12 months after download and restrict printing to 100 pages per week.
eBooks are available to students as cards, similar to electronic gift cards and phone service cards, and can be obtained in the Campus Store textbook department. A student who chooses to purchase an eBook will present the card to the cashier, who activates the card by swiping it at the register.
The student can then download the book by visiting www.DigitalTextbooks.net. There are currently more than 1,600 titles in the Universal Digital Textbooks program, with more being added all of the time.
The information contained within eBooks is copyright protected in accordance with Digital Rights Management rules. These rules protect intellectual property by allowing a single download to a single computer, setting the length of time that the book can be accessed on the computer (ranging from 12 months to unlimited availability, depending on the publisher), and using an encoding technique that prevents file sharing. While students cannot share eBooks, they can make backup copies to prevent data loss in case of computer failure.
To purchase an eBook, or for more information about this money-saving option, visit the University Campus Store. For activation or questions about your Universal Digital Textbook log on to www.DigitalTextbooks.net.
