Textbooks costly, options
The high cost of textbooks is something many students find distressing. They don’t have a choice about buying them because, if they want to do their best, they will need the textbook.
Many times, when students go to buy textbooks they have to buy the new book as a packet, with computer software. This can get quite expensive.
For one computer science course, the packet is $245.10, while the Organic Chemistry I textbook is $170.25.
Some students may be able to get by using a past edition textbook for their class.
Some books that are past editions are not that different from the new ones. The old book may not be as good, but it sometimes will do.
Some students choose not to buy books at all because they just can’t afford it.
Thankfully, some professors have their course textbooks on reserve at the circulations desk of the library.
Students may check out reserve textbooks for two hours at a time. A time limit is set because there are many students who come in and need to use the textbooks. The only disadvantage is that being a reserve textbook, you will only be able to use it while you are in the library.
What also doesn’t seem completely fair is that when you turn in your textbook to receive cash back at the end of the semester, you may get a response that a new edition is being issued and you will not receive any money back for your book.
And if you are lucky enough to receive money back for your book, it is often drastically less than the price you paid for it.
Students may have noticed that new stores are being opened, such as Textbook Brokers, where you can sell textbooks, and buy books for much cheaper than what the college provides.
One girl announced to our class that she bought all five of her textbooks needed for the semester for under $200 from Textbook Brokers.
Textbook Brokers also gives a 5 percent discount to students if you are on their MySpace “friends list.”
This is just one place that has begun to receive business when it comes to buying and selling textbooks. There could possibly be more opening.
Textbook Brokers will buy back books all year round and sometimes will give you more money back than the college will. Students may also sell and buy textbooks from www.half.ebay.com and www.amazon.com. There may be a small shipping or processing fee.
It’s not that students don’t want to buy and sell their textbooks at the college bookstore, but a college student will want to save money any way possible.
And avoiding our own college bookstore to go elsewhere, sadly, is what some students are beginning to do.
—Yvonne Oberly
Staff Writer
