Q: How much did you pay for all textbooks, hard copy and e-textbooks, this semester? We need actual costs, not guesses or vague statements, such as “a lot.”
Susan Letsch: This semester I’ve spent an estimated $250 on textbooks.
Susan Letsch, 21
Buena Vista University
Spring 2018 junior
Hometown: Le Mars, Iowa
Major: Social Work and Criminal Justice
A: What was your most expensive book, and how much did it cost?
Letsch: Most of the books I rented this year, but my most expensive book would probably be my brand new, um, art book. And that was more than $100 itself.
A: How often you use your textbooks?
Letsch: Once in a long time, like every four months. I have only used it once this semester started.
Q: How much did you spend on e-textbooks this semester?
Letsch: I did not get any E-textbooks.
A: How often do you use the Internet vs textbooks?
Letsch: I use my computer every day, but I don’t think it’s the same. I’m not using any material from the book.
A: Did you resell your books from last semester, and if so, how much money did you get?
Letsch: I sold them back to the bookstore last semester and the bookstore gave me like 15 dollars for 600 dollars worth of books.
A: Does the value you get from your textbooks match what you pay for them?
Letsch: I think it depends on the class, but most of the time; no.
A: Have you ever ordered your textbooks from the school bookstore?
Letsch: Absolutely, not.
A: Where do you mostly get your books from?
Letsch: Amazon.
A: And do you rent them or buy them?
Letsch: I used to buy them every year because I wanted to be able to mark in them but this year they were too expensive so I had to rent all of them.
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