Can I check the textbook for my class out from the library?
Answer
Can I check the textbook for my class out from the library?
Check with you instructor to see if the instructor has put one copy of the textbook on reserve for student short term use at the library. If a textbook is on reserve, and it is not already checked out to another student, you may be able to check it out /use it for a short period of time (typically 2 hours) in the library. This can be useful if you need to quickly review something before going to class, if you forgot your own textbook at home.
Can you get the textbook for me from another library?
The library participates in interlibrary loan (ILL). Due to interlibrary loan rules, though, we cannot get a book from another library that you can have for a full semester, so it is not something to use for textbooks. Usually we get books from ILL for only two weeks, so that is not enough time to complete a class. ILL can be great if you need a book to complete a research assignment, and we don’t already have it in our own library collection.
Other suggestions on how to get the textbook for cheap/free?
The college bookstore often has copies of textbooks at a reasonable price and they may be able to assist you with used or rental textbook options in some cases. You should also check the syllabus and see what it says about the textbook. The textbook might be available inside the Blackboard shell and be included in your tuition fees already. Or, the instructor also might be choosing to use an open textbook (OER) textbook, which is free. Another possibility is that your instructor might have other suggestions, such as places you can go to get a lower-priced used copy of the textbook. (Just make sure you are obtaining the correct edition of the textbook, unless the instructor says an older edition is okay to use for the course. You also would want to make sure you are not going to need a code that is bundled only with a new copy of the textbook. (Your instructor can let you know if a used copy is okay). Another idea: if a textbook is very expensive, consider if you could "share" it with a classmate - you chip in together to buy it, and take turns using it.
