Ontario students can get textbooks for less

Cost recovery print textbooks are available through partnership between eCampusOntario and University of Waterloo

TORONTO, March 29, 2019 /CNW/ – A partnership for a textbook Print-On-Demand (POD) service between the University of Waterloo and eCampusOntario will ensure that Ontario students and educators in public post-secondary institutions can obtain affordable course materials in both digital and print formats.

The eCampusOntario Open Library, which has recorded over $2,000,000 of cost savings for students to date, has partnered with the University of Waterloo’s Print + Retail Solutions department to provide cost recovery printing services for textbooks and other resources available through the online library. The new partnership means that students and educators have the option of using a digital textbook at no cost or printing a high-quality version at cost. For instance, a Health Sciences textbook that would cost hundreds of dollars retail is available in colour print for $33.05, and black and white for $11.40. “Not everybody learns the same way,” says Randy Dauphin, Associate Director, Operations and Strategic Initiatives at the University of Waterloo. “So there’s value to providing those learning materials however people want them.”

The University of Waterloo’s printing services can provide cost recovery print jobs because they are considered ancillary services for the institution. “Our mandate is to service the students,” says Dauphin. “And in order to be an advocate and an ally to students, cost is always a factor.”

The printing unit provides not only experienced technicians who are deeply committed to serving students but also professional quality print services. Waterloo recently purchased a Xerox Iridesse Production Press, a professional-grade system with increased capacity and the ability to print high definition material.

eCampusOntario is a publicly funded non-profit that promotes innovation and collaboration across Ontario’s 45 publicly funded colleges and universities.

Visit the Open Library at https://openlibrary.ecampusontario.ca/. Make inquiries about the Open Library and POD service to Lillian Hogendoorn at lhogendoorn@ecampusontario.ca.