Bargaining for books

SO MOST students cannot buy all the necessary course texts (In Brief THES, August 22). I would love to be able to go out and buy all my course texts, and, if I was wealthy, believe me I would do so. However, with a recommended list for next term in the region of 15 to 20 (that is for one term only), and at an average cost of Pounds 10 per book, I simply have not got the money. Therefore, I have to decide what texts are more necessary to buy than others; the rest are borrowed from the campus library or, if available, bought second-hand.

As a mature student with savings and part-time work I am better off than some, yet I find it difficult. And when fees are introduced, those already strapped for cash will find buying primary texts even more difficult.

If the Publishers Association could exercise some influence in making books cheaper, then perhaps we students will be able to afford more of them and bring some added contentment into our lecturers' lives.

Lindzey Mullard

School of English and American studies University of Sussex