Sen. Durbin co-authors legislation to make quality textbooks free to all.
Sen. Durbin co-authors legislation to make quality textbooks free to all.
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, Minnesota Sen. Al Franken and Maine Sen. Angus King have unveiled legislation aimed at making high-quality textbooks easily available to students, professors and the public -- free of charge.
Dubbed the Affordable College Textbook Act, the measure would create a competitive grant program to support the creation of college textbooks with open licenses, meaning anyone can access the materials.
Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Reps. Rubén Hinojosa of Texas and Jared Polis of Colorado.
“In the ongoing nationwide debate about the rising cost of college, one of the most basic and direct costs to students is often overlooked: textbooks,” Durbin said.
The average college student in the U.S. pays $1,225 for textbooks and supplies during the academic year.
Durbin introduced his bill after researching practices by the publishing industry to create new of college textbooks.
The Affordable College Textbook Act is backed by the Scholarly Publishing & Academic Resources Coalition, National Association of College Stores, American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, American Association of Community Colleges, Association of Community College Trustees, Association of Research Libraries and Association of College & Research Libraries.
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