In our last post, we considered the importance of college textbooks and some of the reasons why they are so expensive. In this post, we’ll consider some possible ways of obtaining books. Our next post will consider ways students can sell books at the end of the semester.
Students may buy new books from the campus bookstore.
When your student considers possible ways of getting his textbooks, he’ll need to weigh convenience and cost. The most convenient way to purchase his books is through the campus bookstore. Bookstores work to make the task as convenient as possible. If the student knows the name of the course and the instructor, the bookstore can usually tell him exactly what he needs for the course. At many schools students can pre-order their books and have them waiting for them when they arrive or even delivered to their dorm. However, this convenience comes with a price. Campus bookstores are the most expensive way to buy a textbook.
Alternatives to the college bookstore may take a bit more work, and definitely some pre-planning, but there are alternatives out there. Here are a few possibilities.
