Reading E-Books: A "Greener" and More Affordable L

UMass Dartmouth campus store is offering students an opportunity to purchase "eBooks", downloadable textbooks that could be installed on a personal computer. The electronic books are available at a good discount of 40% or even more compared to regular textbooks. This is a definitely a big cost saver for students, and it is good for the environment. For instance, if a publisher sells a million copies of an average 250-page book, it takes 12,000 trees to produce just this one title. Other advantages also make "eBooks" a good buy: electronic books are searchable, allow taking notes and make comments, and they are not putting too much weight on student shoulders.

Why not using more "eBooks" in the classroom? Right now not all books have their electronic version and not everyone is accustomed to electronic reading. However, as more students are now using laptops, PalmPilots and other portable devices, there is a great opportunity for a wider usage of electronic texts and materials in the classrooms.

How can we make more eBooks available for UMass Dartmouth students? Do a search if your current class books have their on-line versions, or ask your instructors to assign books that offer electronic editions.