Computer-savvy college students are accustomed to accessing their favorite music, movies and other content in digital formats. Why not their textbooks?

That’s the question posed by the University of Houston Bookstore, operated by Barnes & Noble. Fortunately for students, it has an answer in the form of a digital textbook program.

Digital textbooks are electronic versions of the traditional printed textbook. Students can purchase digital textbooks at a 40-percent savings off the new book price and download them onto a computer using a high-speed Internet connection by visiting the Why Wait for Books Web site at www.whywaitforbooks.com. Students are not required to be online to read the digital textbook after successfully downloading it.

“Digital textbooks and used textbooks are just another component of the bookstore's program to offer more choice and savings to students,” said Monti Eddins, regional manager of Barnes & Noble College Booksellers. “These new textbooks transform the learning environment into an interactive experience where students use software to search the text, highlight information, take notes and print selections.”

There are 700 widely used textbooks nationwide that are now available in both digital and traditional printed versions. UH faculty members are using 48 of these titles in digital form this semester. Students can learn whether digital versions of their required textbooks are available by visiting the Why Wait for Books Web site. Additionally, they can check the bookshelves at the UH Bookstore for shelf-tags, shelf-talkers and fliers indicating that a textbook is available in a digital format.

Digital textbooks have a limited use and are not eligible for buyback at the end of the semester.

Douglas Britt
dbritt@uh.edu