In a digital world, students favor paper textbooks

Although many college students have smartphones, browse the Internet, and chat with their friends and family through Web cams, they still haul around heavy, old-fashioned textbooks.  According to the New York Times, 1,500 college bookstores, along with internet retailers such as Amazon and Textbooks.com, are offering both new and used textbook rentals for this fall.

The National Association of College Stores reports that digital books make up only three percent of textbook sales. In a recent study, the association also reports that three-quarters of college students who were surveyed prefer paper textbooks to digital publications.

“Students grew up learning from print books,” Nicole Allen, a textbook campaign director, said. “So as they transition to higher education, it’s not surprising that they carry a preference for a format that they are most accustomed to.”

 According to the New York Times, Barnes & Noble College Booksellers introduced a new software application last summer - NOOKstudy - which allows students to navigate e-textbooks on Macs and PCs. Yet many students are reluctant to make the switch to these e-books.

“The real hurdle is getting them to try it,” Tracey Weber, the Barnes & Noble executive vice president for textbooks and digital education, said.

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