Editor:

In the past, several people have written letters to the editor complaining about the U Bookstore’s textbook policies, such as buybacks and the quantity of used books available.However, there is another, more blatant offense it has committed: changing ISBN numbers.

An ISBN number is a unique identifyingnumber assigned to every book, including textbooks. They are the best way to look up a book online.

The bookstore’s Web site includes these numbers, but with two glaring changes: the prefix “978” and a different final digit.

WhenI entered an ISBN which the bookstore provided into a textbook Web site, no results came up.After searching by title, Ifound my books and discovered this little trickery.After researching online, Idid find that the “978” prefix is to be phased in, but not until Jan. 1, 2007-almost a full year away.

And yes, the “new” ISBNs are on the barcode on the cover of the books in the bookstore; in order to get the correct ISBN, you have to look on the inside cover.This means that you can’t get the correct ISBN for new books because they’re sealed.

I have a dyslexic friend in high school who needs books on audiotape.The best way for him to find them is by the ISBN.If he (or anyone else who needs audio books) were searching by the bookstore’s ISBN, he would find nothing.

Not only does the bookstore try to monopolize the textbook market by severely reducing the ability to comparison shop, but it puts some students with a disability at an even greater disadvantage. I strongly urge anyone who has yet to buy textbooks to do so at any other location.

Spencer Ferrero

Senior, Accounting