Lawmakers Study Ways To Cut Cost Of Textbooks

"I don't think the university is in business to rip off students," he said. "But we need to be sure we put textbooks in the hands of our students and not dollars in our pockets."

In Maryland, the average college student spends about $1,100 on textbooks each year, said Andrew M. Friedson, student body president at the University of Maryland.

"This is a huge amount of money for students and their families," Friedson said.

"For me and many other students, that is a month of rent or a campus meal plan," added Isaac Meyer, legislative affairs director of the Towson University Student Government Association.

Del. Adelaide C. Eckardt (R-Dorchester), who chairs the House GOP Caucus, said "anything we can do to lower the costs of textbooks is important."

No lawmaker voiced opposition to Holmes's bill at yesterday's hearing. But Jane Roth, a vice president at Barnes and Noble, which operates more than 500 college bookstores nationwide, submitted written testimony opposing the bill.

"As bookstore operators, we understand the need to have affordable educational materials and we strive to provide as many used books to our students as possible," Roth said.

She said there is no indication that a similar law passed in Virginia in 2005 has saved students money. "In fact, it appears that . . . [it] gives no tangible benefit," Roth said.

About 20 state legislatures are considering legislation to stem increases in textbook prices, said J. Bruce Hildebrand, executive director for higher education at the Association of American Publishers. He said the AAP supports the Holmes and Klausmeier bills.