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The TAP team is here to answer your questions! Feel free to get in touch with us by emailing lib-tap@usf.edu

Historical data on the effectiveness of TAP programs, overall and by college, can be found at the Data Dashboard (tap.usf.edu/dashboard).

The purpose of the Textbook Affordability Project (TAP) is to create awareness and solutions that ensure all students have access to affordable and up-to-date course materials. In the 2022-2023 school year, students at four-year public colleges spent an average of $1,240 on textbooks and supplies.

In 2018, Florida Virtual Campus surveyed more than 21,000 Florida students and found that textbook costs negatively impact student success. Of the total respondents, 64.2% said the high cost of textbooks prevented them from purchasing a required textbook. Moreover, 42.8% of respondents said they took fewer courses, 35.6% believe they earned a poor grade, and 22.9% dropped a course because of high textbook costs.

To help mitigate these issues, TAP provides active solutions to the rising cost of textbooks through various initiatives and programs.

TAP has six primary components:

    1. Website – tap.usf.edu features need-to-know information about USF Bookstore adoption deadlines; textbook affordability initiatives, policies, and regulations; and best practices for reducing student costs.
    2. Textbook Recommendation Service – each semester TAP prepares cost-saving recommendations for faculty members across USF. These recommendations are based off USF Bookstore adoption data from the previous year. TAP often recommends adopting digital rather than print formats or refers faculty to access their textbook for free through Ebook for the Classroom+.
    3. Ebooks for the Classroom + – makes electronic books and textbooks available to students at no cost, with no access limitations. The USF Libraries will purchase electronic versions of currently adopted course materials if they are available in that format, at the request of instructors.
    4. Open Access Textbooks – Open Educational Resources (OER) are freely accessible to all, without restriction. USF Digital Commons is a “virtual showcase for USF’s research and creative energies” which features USF academic community authored and openly accessible journals, textbooks, collections, theses, and dissertations..
    5. Textbooks on Reserve – The USF Libraries holds reserves or textbooks and other materials required for students to complete their coursework. Course reserve items can be borrowed for three-hour loan periods within the USF Libraries.
    6. Textbook Adoption Compliance – TAP officially manages USF’s compliance with textbook affordability laws and regulations in the state of Florida. Three documents govern textbook affordability and selection at USF: