As publishing companies increase distribution of learning materials online and through computer software, the demise of the middleman bookstore is becoming a realistic - albeit still remote - possibility.
Downloadable materials students access online using PIN codes and digital video disks distributed through schools are two of the fastest emerging trends many publishers are hoping will eliminate the hassles and expenses of printing, packaging and delivering printed textbooks.
UB's School of Dental Medicine is currently making the transition to digital content; it sells a DVD "e-book" to its students at cost that contains all required textbooks, videos and imagery.
"They felt that the costs of the material would be cheaper for the students if they handle it themselves because they wouldn't necessarily need to make any money on the sales," said Bill Adamcyzk, textbook manager of the University Bookstore. "They would just be a delivery point, so to speak."
As schools look to keep student costs down by handling the distribution of such e-textbooks themselves, college bookstores expect their business to change as well.
Adamcyzk foresees the University Bookstore offering more merchandise like PIN codes, CD-ROMs and DVDs as printed texts fall by the wayside.
"They are still going to need a vehicle to get [the material] to students," he said.
There are many obstacles to schools handling e-book sales internally. In addition to distributing software, they would have to process payments, returns and repairs.
"If something's broke, who's going to handle the return of the CD or computer?" said Adamcyzk. "Is it going to be the department secretary or chair?"
The shift from paper textbooks to e-books will also damage the lucrative used-book business, much to the chagrin of bookstores but welcomed by publishing companies.
"[The used book business is] what hurts us the most," said Suzanne Bochet, a sales representative for Wadsworth, a textbook publishing company.
With e-books, old versions of the texts will become obsolete as publishing companies simply release annual updates of the material.
