The life span of a print textbook: An investigation in the utility of aging textbook collections in academic libraries

Abstract

This paper will use circulation data to explore usage trends for physical textbooks in an academic library over a sustained period of time. Conclusions will be drawn from the analysis to determine the usefulness of aging physical textbook collections in academic libraries and inform recommendations for efficient models of lending and management.     

Textbooks on the move: Transforming a textbook collection

Recently, The City College of New York (CCNY) libraries engaged in a collaborative project to transfer the bibliographic holdings for textbook course reserves to a new module when their integrated library systems, the Ex Libris Aleph Integrated Library System, underwent a system upgrade. In this article, the Chief of Circulation and the Chief of Cataloging share and analyze the various steps and challenges undertaken to complete this project, which took place over the span of three semesters. This article will serve to assist those who work in circulation and cataloging to aid in the planning of a large collaborative library-wide project.     

论应用型大学经济管理类教材的策划

应用型大学是我国高等教育体系的重要组成部分,其教材的开发理应受到出版社的重视.本文以应用型大学经济管理类教材为例,对现有应用型大学教材的问题进行分析,根据应用型大学经济管理专业的特点,提出相关的策划思路.     

高校图书馆应加强馆藏教材建设

本文论述新形势下高校图书馆加强馆藏教材建设的重要意义和作用，并提出了馆藏教材的范围和途径。     

教科书出版与近代政治变革

历史上任何一项发生重要影响的事业,都是一定社会环境下的产物."出版终究是一种文化现象,必须受经济基础和上层建筑的影响和制约".     

The pros and cons of state-level textbook adoption

The debate concerning the advantages and disadvantages of state vs. local adoption of textbooks has gone on for decades. Until recently, however, there have been no systematic attempts to study this issue—at least not in a way that will yield insights to policymakers and others interested in the manner in which educators evaluate and select textbooks. This article describes recently completed studies that have examined textbook adoption and have the potential to illuminate this debate. The many pros and cons surrounding state vs. local adoption are considered in light of these recent findings. Michael A. Tulley, associate professor of education at Indiana University-Kokomo, has been researching and writing in the area of textbook adoption since the early 1980s. He is a former classroom reading teacher, and also served as a state-level reading consultant with the Indiana Department of Education.     

The textbook problem: Investigating one possible solution

This article explores the inherent problems for academic libraries in providing access to textbooks to students, the growing demand for such access by students, and presents the findings of a reserve pilot project conducted at a major Midwest university. Findings indicate the pros and cons of the pilot attempted as well as demonstrating the need for continued research and collaborative work with appropriate organizations on the campus and beyond.     

Forecasting methods and practices of academic textbook publishers

Academic textbook publishers use a variety of methods and sources in forecasting sales. The study described in this article evaluates the quality of information available, the variety of industry practices, and the adequacy of the forecasts obtained. It also recommends ways of improving the quality of information used in forecasting.     

Closing the loop: Students,academic libraries,and textbook affordability

This paper will summarize over 400 responses to a student questionnaire used to assess a textbook affordability program at Rutgers University. Students' responses showed that they were concerned about textbook costs, liked their open and affordable course content, and unanimously supported continuing the program. Because the Open and Affordable Textbooks program is administered through the Libraries, the survey also offers a glimpse at how textbook affordability interfaces with key library services, including collection development, teaching and learning, reserves and the visibility, use and discoverability of library resources. This article is intended to bring the conversation full circle and take steps toward defining an ecosystem of library services and activities that support textbook affordability and OER. The goal is to bring more visibility to OER programs and make sure they are integrated in foundational library operations, so that students recognize the libraries' investment in their academic success.     

Protection of the textbook industry in developing countries: In the public interest?

Many developing countries protect their textbook industries to safeguard national image, local jobs, infant industries, and foreign exchange. Yet, as this article points out, protection itself has costs, and these costs have become excessive. Reducing protection for textbook production, the author argues, would benefit both education and economies in developing countries. Stephen P. Heyneman is chief of the Human Resources Division in the teaching arm of the World Bank, the Economic Development Institute. His division is responsiblefor conducting policy-level discussions in the fields of education, health economics, family planning, and nutrition. He has personally been working on problems having to do with the quality of education in developing countries since 1971.     

盘点2009:教辅图书渠道模式的几个新变趋势

近年来,教辅图书销售的传统渠道模式面临巨大变化,以终端客户利益为导向的教辅直销模式的广泛普及,正在悄然改变着传统的教辅图书市场销售的整体格局,新的渠道融合正在形成.本文试图通过梳理2009年教辅图书市场渠道模式新变化,以期认清目前变动中的教辅书业形势,把握教辅书业特别是市场销售渠道模式的未来趋势与走向.     

Five years later: A survey of state textbook reform

A survey was conducted to follow up the activities of a national project to improve the quality of textbooks available in American schools. The survey found that reform efforts have affected textbook policy in the adoption states throughout the country; nonadoption states, for the most part, have not addressed problems with textbooks. Changes in the adoption states are more incremental than dramatic; more diverse than focused; more in keeping with state cultures than national in character. Certain trends, however, indicate that policy makers continue to believe that their actions can improve the textbooks used in their schools. There is evidence that the adoption processes are increasingly focused on qualitive judgments about books being made by better-prepared and better-supported selectors. In addition, the adoption processes themselves are becoming less constraining on local district decision making through a variety of mechanisms.     

Coping with textbook controversies: From policy development to implementation

This article focuses on how schools can cope with today’s increasing number of textbook controversies. Educators should understand the concerns generated by textbook controversies, the importance of sound and useful policies in dealing with them, how effective policies are developed, and the responsibilities of superintendents, principals, teachers, librarians, and publishers in addressing controversies and implementing policies.     

论日本三大报有关历史教科书问题的社论框架

本文运用框架分析法 ,对日本三大报关于历史教科书问题的社论进行了研究。结果表明 ,1 982年三大报的社论在保守论调的框架内批评了政府美化战争的企图 ,表现出了进步的立场。但是 ,2 0 0 1年三大报采用了一种新的论说框架 ,右倾思潮在日本媒介的内容和意识构架里重新抬头     

Language adaptations: Award-winning children’s literature in basal textbook readers

One frequent complaint about basal readers is that, when they adapt high-quality literature, they make pointless simplifications that significantly detract from the value of the original stories. This article reports a study of adaptations of award-winning stories for three grade levels. The results suggest strongly that, at least during the past fifteen years, these complaints are unjustified. Jacqueline C. Comas is assistant professor of education at the University of Florida in Gainesville where she teaches courses in language arts and children's literature. She is a former classroom teacher, has served as a reading consultant, a reading/language arts supervisor, and has worked with textbook adoption committees for the improvement of instructional materials since the late 1970s.