Ebooks
Built on the Netflix business model, some companies are providing textbook rental services that can save you 50-70% over buying them outright. Check out these sites:
Open Textbooks
Ask your instructor to consider using open source textbooks, which are freely available texts with nonrestrictive licenses. You can legally download, read and print them for free. Here are some repositories of open source textbooks:
- Connexions
- MERLOT
- Community College Open Textbook Project
- Online Mathematics Textbooks
- Textbook Revolution
- MIT Open Courseware
Swapping
The digital age makes it easier than ever to connect with folks who are done with a book you might need for next year. Try sending out a call on Facebook for a particular book you need, or a book swapping site like campusbookswap.org. You might also try organizing a face-to-face department-wide book swap at the end of the semester.
Buy used whenever possible
Both bookstores in town sell used books and have aggressive buyback programs. For example, the Truman State University Bookstore (operated by Barnes & Noble) states that they saved students more than $169,000 with the sales of $675,000 in used books in 2008.
Know when to sell back
Both bookstores in town have a window of time each semester when they’ll buy back books at 50% of what you paid for them if they’re in good condition. That’s typically the period immediately before final exams, running through the last day of finals.
Also, a particular book’s value may drop once the store has bought up all they need for the next semester’s classes - another good reason to sell back as early as possible.
Other tips
- Ask your instructor if you’ll be using any materials that might be bundled with the book - such as cdroms or workbooks. If not, order them without.
- Clarify with your instructor which books are required and which are recommended but not essential to the course.
- Consider going in on books with a classmate and sharing, if possible.