Hero is intended to function as a tool to help college students manage the cost of textbooks.

textbooks-costSoftware provider Sidewalk has announced the launch of Hero, a new platform providing content cost transparency for faculty, college bookstores, and students nationwide. The new software is anticipated to be installed in 200 universities this year.

Hero was first created as “My Book List” by Brigham Young University. Over the past five years, the product has been continuously improved and refined with feedback from over 1,600 faculty members, 30,000 students and one of the largest campus bookstores in the country.

“Course content selection has existed in silos far too long, leading to limited choice, blind pricing, steep cost increases and general frustration amongst students, faculty and campus bookstores,” said Alan Martin, Founder and CEO of Sidewalk.

(Next page: Key features of the Hero platform)

About the Author:

Laura Ascione

Laura Ascione is the Managing Editor, Content Services at eSchool Media. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland's prestigious Philip Merrill College of Journalism. When she isn't wrangling her two children, Laura enjoys running, photography, home improvement, and rooting for the Terps. Find Laura on Twitter: @eSN_Laura http://twitter.com/eSN_Laura

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