Alibris Responds to Rising Textbook Prices with Contribution to B.U.I.L.D.

New and Used Textbook Sales Contribute to Local Literacy Program

EMERYVILLE, CA—August 23, 2006—Today Alibris, the premiere online destination for new and used textbooks, announced it will contribute ten percent of its sales to University of California-Berkeley students to Bears United in Literacy Development (B.U.I.L.D.). B.U.I.L.D., part of the national America Reads campaign, connects University of California-Berkeley students with K-8th grade students in Berkeley and Oakland. The program creates a reading and college-going culture for students. Alibris demonstrates its active interest in literacy by providing students the opportunity to purchase low cost textbooks from a network of the best independent booksellers from 45 countries.

"B.U.I.L.D. is very grateful to Alibris for its contribution," said Jose Ramirez, K-12 Outreach Coordinator of Cal Corps Public Service Center. " B.U.I.L.D. connects kids to reading and Alibris connects readers to books. Literacy is a door to a better future and Alibris textbook sales are helping turn the key that unlocks the door."

Alibris Building Bridges with Textbooks
"B.U.I.L.D. and Alibris have a natural synergy," said Martin Manley, Chairman and CEO of Alibris. "Call it enlightened self-interest. Teaching more students to read is good for our community and good for our business.”

Alibris is rolling out a back-to-school promotion to students at the University of California-Berkeley.  Students will receive $5.00 off new or used textbook purchases of more than $30.00. In addition to this discount, every day from today through September 1, 2006, Alibris will award a free order of books to a student buyer. B.U.I.L.D. will receive ten percent of the total textbook sales Alibris makes to University of California- Berkeley students during the promotion.

About the High Cost of Textbooks
College students, on average, spend more than $900 per year for required textbooks, according to the U.S. General Accountability Office (GAO), and that cost is increasing every year by about six percent. At that rate, today's first grader will spend more than $1,800 per year to buy required textbooks. According to the GAO report (GAO-05-806), “In the last two decades, college textbook prices have increased at twice the rate of inflation but have followed close behind tuition increases. Increasing at an average of six percent per year, textbook prices nearly tripled from December 1986 to December 2004, while tuition and fees increased by 240 percent and overall inflation was 72 percent.”

Some of my friends work summer jobs just to pay for their textbooks" said Cal college student Devin Fitzpatrick.  "It's common for some of my new textbooks to cost more than $100 each. Buying used textbooks helps, as long as they're available. It's kind of weird to think that I'll spend as much on books in a few semesters as some people spend to buy a car."

About Alibris
Alibris is the premiere online destination for new, used, rare, and out-of-print books. We connect people who love books, music, and movies to the best independent sellers from 45 countries around the world. Our proprietary technology and advanced logistics allow us to offer over 60 million used, new, and out-of-print books to consumers, libraries, and retailers, which include Barnes & Noble, Borders, Amazon.com, and Books-A-Million. Founded in 1998 and acquired by Oak Hill Capital Partners in 2006, Deloitte named Alibris a “Fast 50” and a “Technology Fast 500” growth business in 2005. Alibris is a registered trademark.