The average American college student forks over almost $1,000 a year just for textbooks.

The cost of those books has risen much faster than most other school expenses - almost 110 percent between 1987 and 2004, according to a congressional advisory report issued last year.

On Oct. 10, students and parents can speak out on textbook costs at a hearing sponsored by the state's Higher Education Policy Commission. The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Wilson University Union at West Virginia State University in Institute.

Last year, the HEPC formed a taskforce to study textbook affordability, said higher education Chancellor Brian Noland. Members of the taskforce have been researching the issue and plan to issue a report by January.

West Virginia law requires colleges and universities to adopt policies that ensure school bookstores do what they can to keep costs down, said HEPC commissioner and taskforce co-chairman Nelson Robinson.

However, the taskforce discovered that several schools - Glenville State College, West Liberty State College, and West Virginia State University - did not have such policies, Robinson said.

"It's my understanding that they're in the process of adopting rules now," Robinson said.

Many factors play into the rising cost of textbooks, but one reason is that publishers issue new editions more frequently, Noland said.

"The days of having a used textbook are still with us," he said, "but those textbooks and the revisions are turned around on a much more rapid basis than in the past."

Publishing companies also add pricey extras, such as CD-ROMs and other supplemental materials.

"You're no longer just buying a textbook," he said.

Robinson said he's heard "horrendous" stories about the costs of textbooks - such as students paying up to $1,500 for books, or unfair return policies at campus bookstores.

"I think many of our institutions use the bookstores as a revenue producer," Robinson said, "and that should not be the case."

Reach Alison Knezevich at alis...@wvgazette.com">alis...@wvgazette.com or 348-1240.

The average American college student forks over almost $1,000 a year just for textbooks.

The cost of those books has risen much faster than most other school expenses - almost 110 percent between 1987 and 2004, according to a congressional advisory report issued last year.

On Oct. 10, students and parents can speak out on textbook costs at a hearing sponsored by the state's Higher Education Policy Commission. The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Wilson University Union at West Virginia State University in Institute.

Last year, the HEPC formed a taskforce to study textbook affordability, said higher education Chancellor Brian Noland. Members of the taskforce have been researching the issue and plan to issue a report by January.

West Virginia law requires colleges and universities to adopt policies that ensure school bookstores do what they can to keep costs down, said HEPC commissioner and taskforce co-chairman Nelson Robinson.

However, the taskforce discovered that several schools - Glenville State College, West Liberty State College, and West Virginia State University - did not have such policies, Robinson said.

"It's my understanding that they're in the process of adopting rules now," Robinson said.

Many factors play into the rising cost of textbooks, but one reason is that publishers issue new editions more frequently, Noland said.

"The days of having a used textbook are still with us," he said, "but those textbooks and the revisions are turned around on a much more rapid basis than in the past."

Publishing companies also add pricey extras, such as CD-ROMs and other supplemental materials.

"You're no longer just buying a textbook," he said.

Robinson said he's heard "horrendous" stories about the costs of textbooks - such as students paying up to $1,500 for books, or unfair return policies at campus bookstores.

"I think many of our institutions use the bookstores as a revenue producer," Robinson said, "and that should not be the case."

Reach Alison Knezevich at alis...@wvgazette.com">alis...@wvgazette.com or 348-1240.