Some Canadian universities are exploring automatic textbook billing programs sometimes called academic materials programs or "inclusive access" programs.
These are institutional agreements with vendors to provide digital access to course materials, and automatically charge students for them as part of their fees.
Concerns with rising textbook costs are a reality for many students. These are often described as a pressing challenge in policy discussions.
The Canadian Association of Research Libraries has raised concerns about automatic textbook billing, including potential threats to faculty freedom, student privacy and access to diverse learning materials.
As professional academic librarians and faculty members, we share these concerns and agree with some student groups that argue automatic textbook billing programs are the wrong answer to textbook affordability challenges. Here's why.
