SAVING BUCKS WITH E-BOOKS

With the advent of digital readers like the Kindle and the near universal preference of laptops over desktops among college students, Assembly Member Micah Kellner believes young scribes can be spared the high cost of textbooks. Kellner released a report Feb. 22 suggesting that CUNY and SUNY negotiate with distributors to establish a price for the bulk purchase of digital texts. The digital textbooks would be compatible with all types of e-reading devices, including laptops, Kindles and iPads. Kellner emphasized the importance of ensuring format flexibility and developing an open system through which students could acquire textbooks at a much lower price than they do now. â??There is no monopoly on knowledge, Kellner said. â??My legislation will mandate CUNY and SUNY to set standards for how we can encourage faculty to develop open textbooks for their courses.