PROVIDING TEXTBOOKS

As the main provider of textbooks for the University, the Coop collects the International Standard Book Numbers for all books. This service has been required of all schools that receive federal financial assistance, as part of a 2008 amendment in the Higher Education Opportunity Act.

“Because the Coop is the primary purveyor of textbooks to Harvard students, the University did enter into an agreement with the Coop last year to ensure compliance with a new federal mandate requiring better disclosure of textbook pricing information to students,” Galvin says.

Providing the ISBN numbers allows students to easily purchase their books at other stores or online. In 2007, a group of Harvard students protested for the Coop to publicize the ISBN list for Harvard courses. When the Coop refused, the students went to the store to copy names and ISBNs.

“We didn’t have a problem with them doing it, but just don’t come here in the middle of rush period,” Murphy says.

The Coop now provides this service for the University for free.

Students and professors have criticized the Coop for having high textbook prices. Murphy acknowledged the markup, explaining that the books must be priced higher  than in internet sales to cover overhead costs.

“We think the price is fair relative to the cost and our value. Is it competitive to what we find online? No, you can always find a book cheaper somewhere,” Murphy says.

The Coop experimented with selling textbooks at cost in the spring semester of last year, but saw no significant increase in purchases.

“It’s a scandal. I buy textbooks, which are very specific and research-oriented, and they are much cheaper. I don’t understand why textbooks can be so expensive. It’s a mystery to me,” says Oliver R. Knill, who teaches Math 21a.

While some students refuse to purchase books from the Coop, others value the store for its location.

Brinkley sees value in going to the Coop and seeing all the books in one place.

“I’ll go to the Coop and look at what books there are as a way of shopping,” Brinkley says.

Due to Harvard’s shopping week, many students do not know their class schedule until study card day. The proximity of the Coop allows students to buy their books immediately, instead of waiting for shipping from an online source.

“If I want to get started on my reading early, I purchase the books immediately there. I do believe it has high prices, but I’m willing to pay the premium there,” says Patrick M. Duffy ’12-13.