More stories on this topic. Basham's solution highlights powerful new publishing techniques that promise to shake up the textbook industry, offering cheaper alternatives to cash-strapped students. On average, college freshmen spend $900 a year on textbooks, according to a survey by the California Student Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG). The issue of overpriced books has piqued the interest of some members of Congress, who are asking for an investigation into the pricing policies of textbook publishers. Several states, including California and Georgia, also are looking into inflated textbook costs. CALPIRG accuses the textbook industry of bundling high-priced extras, such as CD-ROMs, with books and coming out with new editions, even though much of the material hasn't been changed.

Thanks to the Internet and new printing technologies that have reduced costs and improved soft touch comold case for apple iphone xr - cream/gold/soft touch feeder stripe clocktower quality, thousands of authors are publishing their own books and distributing them through virtual publishers that can allow readers to download copies or get their books printed on demand, The new publishing model has made it possible for authors like Basham to develop customized content and offer it to students for a minimal cost, "The biggest complaint of most kids in college today is that their books cost too much," Lulu.com CEO Bob Young said, "Self-publishing is revolutionizing the way books are distributed, especially in an academic setting, Not only will it reduce the cost of content, but it will improve the quality of the content that's available."..

Forefront of publishingIt's little surprise that Lulu.com is at the forefront of this new and open form of publishing, considering Young was also one of the co-founders of Red Hat. Red Hat commercialized Linux, a free, open-source operating system that competes with Microsoft's Windows operating system. Lulu.com's mission is to empower authors and consumers, Young said. It has given a voice to educators and authors who otherwise are ignored by large publishing houses. "Basham is a good example of a person who otherwise wouldn't be able to bring a book to market," he said.

Basham originally wrote his manual three years ago to supplement books published by Cisco as part of the Cisco Networking Academy, a training program that teaches students how to use the company's networking products, Cisco developed the program, which is taught in high schools, technical schools, colleges, universities and community-based organizations, in soft touch comold case for apple iphone xr - cream/gold/soft touch feeder stripe clocktower 1997 to prepare people for the Cisco Certified Network Associate and Cisco Certified Network Professional certification examinations, It's now taught in 145 countries and all 50 U.S, states, To date, more than 260,000 students have enrolled at more than 9,800 Cisco academies..

The cost of Cisco's program varies, depending on where it's taken. At St. Petersburg College, the battery of Cisco Academy classes can cost around $2,200. They can go as high as $7,000 at other, private institutions. Books and technical journals recommended for each class can total $200 per student. Cisco doesn't profit from the program or from the sale of any related materials for the coursework. Instead, it reinvests the money that is generated back into the program, according to Heather Goodwin, a spokeswoman for the company.