This book price compilation, based on books reviewed in Choice during the 2006 calendar year, was prepared under the sponsorship of the Library Materials Price Index Editorial Board of the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, a division of the American Library Association.
For 2006, the overall average price for books in the Humanities, Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences (including reference books) was $62.15, a 3% increase over the average 2005 price of $60.33. Reference books continued to have the highest average price at $136.85 and the highest percentage increase over the previous year, nearly 11%. Without reference books included, the average 2006 book price was $56.24 or a 3.3% increase over the average 2005 price of $54.43.
Highlights of the Price Study:
Avg. Price per Title
Art & Architecture: $55.45
Language & Literature: $62.81
Chemistry: $110.55
Engineering: $108.70
Health Sciences: $57.19
Physics: $67.93
Business, Management & Labor: $48.49
History, Geography & Area Studies: $54.99
Political Science: $48.11
Psychology: $59.00
Reference: $136.85
