I love getting mail. I love books. So, as you can probably guess, I love getting new textbooks in the mail.
Since I'm still pretty new at this professor thing, my bookshelves are practically empty when compared with those of my colleagues. I have to seek out preview copies of texts I'm interested in, signing up for accounts with publishers or tracking down the often-elusive company representative. In contrast, my more senior colleagues get unsolicited boxes of textbooks every other week.
The packages don't just result in new editions of textbooks. They also bring out the textbook buyers. These are the guys that come around with their wheely-bags, poke their heads into every faculty office, and offer to buy back your unwanted preview copies of textbooks.
I always give the same response: "No, thank you. I don't sell back books." I actually *want* all the textbooks I've requested. I don't have double copies or newer editions of the same book. Although, to be honest, even when the day comes that my bookshelves are overflowing with unwanted textbooks, I'm still not sure I'll be comfortable with selling a free book.
Do you think it is okay for professors to sell preview copies of textbooks? If the copy was sent without being requested, does that make a difference? Do you sell back (or are planning on selling back) preview copies of textbooks? If not, what do you do with the redundant books?
9 comments:
I can't help you with this one; I didn't even know such a think happened. I'm just looking forward to those free textbooks!
My understanding is that when you receive review copies of books, you almost always explicitly agree not to sell them. Thus, selling them to these resellers is breach of contract.
Yes, CP, it's often even stamped right on the book! This is exactly why I would consider the selling of them to be unethical. BUT...why are these book buyers so prevalent then?
Because nobody stops them?
You can go to http://bookcrossing.com and get a unique ID for your book. Then others can enter the ID and record what happens to it and how they liked it.
You could donate it to a school, mail it to Botswana, or just leave it in a student lounge with a "free book" sticky-note.
Does the money go to you, or to the university? If the money goes to the school, I would do it. Perhaps start a fund for students who can't afford their textbooks? A very worthy cause. That salesman is going to make money selling it to someone else anyway.
The older editions, I give to students (that's how I got hooked on textbooks). The newer editions, I keep for quick quiz or exam questions when my brain isn't being creative.
OK Eli is an old grouchy guy, but professors who take desk copies are raising the price for their students. Textbooks cost a whole lot less elsewhere because in the US textbooks are specified by the instructor. I can get any chemistry textbook hand delivered complete with slobbering publishers rep the next day at no cost. They will cheerfully pile the supplementary material they carefully designed to kill the used book market up to my ceiling.
It is simply unethical
Mono, I had never heard of that!
Jewels-- the money would go to me. Cash, actually.
Anon, that's what I plan to do, at least in future years. I definitely use other textbook for quiz AND exam questions. I'm barely keeping up as it is; I don't have the luxury to be creative!
EliRabett: unethical to accept desk copies?
Yes, you are accepting a bribe at a cost to your students. The publishers are not giving you a gift out of the goodness of their hearts. Read the link
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