NIU officials should be commended for recognizing that the rising cost of textbooks is a problem that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. The University Council’s decision to form a committee that will examine ways to alleviate high textbook prices is a step in the right direction.

The national average cost per year for textbooks is $817, according to the College Board. It’s no wonder, then, that some students simply choose not to buy their books at all and pay the consequences instead.

After all, the consequences probably would cost students less in the long run.

Wholesale prices of college textbooks have risen about 40 percent in the past five years, according to the National Association of College Bookstores. When bookstores have to pay more for books, student costs skyrocket exponentially.

For students already strapped for cash, this price hike certainly hasn’t made college any more affordable.

The University Bookstore offers an online survey in which students can give feedback about how much they used their books; survey results are forwarded to professors.

While the bookstore may not be the most impartial source, the survey is a good idea and one the University Council should consider adopting on a campus-wide scale.

If students aren’t reading their books – as many of them aren’t – professors may want to consider alternatives, such as creating packets or placing articles on electronic reserve. At the least, these measures would save students money. At best, students may be more inclined to read their course materials because of the more accessible format.

A textbook rental system similar to those implemented at Eastern Illinois University and Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville also has been suggested. While the rental system undoubtedly would save students money, the constraints it imposes may not be feasible. Faculty would have to use the same texts for three or four semesters for the system to work, which would be especially detrimental for upper-level courses.

But the council should investigate any and all remedies to the textbook price problem – and find a solution before students stop buying books altogether.