To the Editor:

Re “How Professors Help Rip Off Students” (Op-Ed, Dec. 12), about the exorbitant cost of textbooks:

Tim Wu urges educators to explore the many options for course materials that are now available, pointing out that “instructors should at least take a look at what’s out there.” We couldn’t agree more.

Education publishers have prioritized affordability with many new initiatives that have dramatically reduced the cost of materials, like interactive courseware, text rental or subscription models, innovative apps and Inclusive Access, which provides students with digital materials on the first day of class, often at a reduced cost.

Recent data suggests that the new options have already resulted in a decline in student spending on textbooks and course materials: Student Watch, funded by the National Association of College Stores, found a yearly drop of $45 a year over the last five school years, a 35 percent decrease, going from $638 to $415 in the most recent year available.

The bottom line is this: Publishers are constantly providing new, affordable options, and we strongly urge the university community to take full advantage of all the possibilities.