Staff Editorial

Library loaning textbooks a good intention, but will it work?

Imagine, if instead of paying an arm and a leg for math and writing textbooks every term, you could check them out from the library? Legislation by the ASMHCC on Wednesday proposed just that. The proposal suggests that $5000 be added to the ASG Student Fee Budget, providing funds to purchase used books from students at MHCC.

The plan has potential, but it also has a few problems. The plan only allows for eight copies per title, and there is no way to guarantee that the neediest students get one of those eight copies.

It’s also impossible to tell what the book will come back like after a term of being on loan, and after a few terms the book may be in ruin.

There has been discussion about giving books to the Transitions programs and TRIO, but according to Sean Robinson, vice presidential candidate and advocate of the book loan program, that requires separate legislation.

The idea of guaranteeing students free books is a good one, but whether it pencils out or not is in the eye of the beholder.

The bill will be discussed further at next Wednesday’s 3 p.m. senate meeting.
Robinson has also said, “This will be our legacy project.” If loaning books to students is to work, it will take more than election-time jargon.