AFFORDABILITY:
NOTICE TO
PUBLISHERS
Notice to Publishers
The State of Maryland’s College Textbook Competition and Affordability Act of 2009 has as
its purposes to establish practices in higher education institutions in the State in which
textbook selection reflects consideration of textbook prices and ways to reduce costs
to students, that posts textbook decisions in a timely manner to help students in
obtaining assigned books at the least cost, and promotes competition.
The statute notes that textbook prices increased by more than twice the increase in
overall inflation in the period 1986-2004. The statute includes specific requirements
for publishers, which are detailed in the sections below. The AACC Bookstore requests
that publishers and publisher representatives fully comply with the disclosure
requirements, which in turn will assist your customers - our faculty - in complying
with the statute. Faculty must acknowledge having been informed of the disclosure
before selecting a textbook.
If you have any questions about the law, contact Steve Pegg,
Director of Auxiliary Services and Chair of AACC's Instructional Materials Affordability Committee.
Section (1)(E)(1). A publisher that sells college textbooks or supplemental material and provides information regarding a college textbook or supplemental material to a faculty member, other adopting entity in charge of selecting course materials, or the administration of an institution of higher education shall disclose with this information, in writing, by paper or electronic means:
I. the price of the college textbook or supplemental material;
II. the title, author, publisher, edition, current and three previous copyright dates, publication date when available, and ISBN of the college textbook and supplemental material, both as bundled and unbundled items;
III. substantial content revisions made between the current edition of the college textbook or supplemental material and the previous edition of the college textbook or supplemental material;
IV. other available formats for the college textbook or supplemental material such as paperback or unbound; and
V. a list of textbooks that are classified as integrated textbooks.
Please note that the statute also requires faculty members to acknowledge having been informed about the disclosures required of publishers before selecting a college textbook.
Section (1)(D)(2). Before selecting a college textbook or supplemental material and before transmitting the selection to a campus bookstore, providing the selection to any other bookstore, or posting the selection on the website of the public institution of higher education, a faculty member shall acknowledge:
I(1). If selecting a different college textbook from a different publisher, the cost of the new selection versus the cost of the previous selection; or
I(2). If selecting a current edition of a college textbook,
A. the differences in substantial content between the current edition of the textbook and the previous edition of the textbook as reported by the publisher under subsection (E) of this section;
B. that the use of the current edition is appropriate due to a material change in substantial content between the current edition and the previous edition;
C. the difference in price between the current edition of the textbook and the previous edition of the textbook; and
D. that the previous edition of the textbook may be available to students at a lower price via the used book market.
II. That an integrated textbook is not subject to subsection (F)(3) of this section; and
III. That supplemental material included in a bundle is intended for use in the course.
Section (1)(E)(2). Faculty members acknowledge having been informed about the disclosures required of publishers under section (1)(E)(1) and the impact that the high cost of college textbooks and supplemental material has on students.