They can save 50 percent or more
While buying books can be an expensive necessity, Little is one of many students taking advantage of a new rental program that is proving to be cost efficient.
For the first time, students can rent select college textbooks from the bookstore on Cooper Street, which provides students from Rutgers–Camden with all of their back-to-school needs.
“You’re only paying about 50 percent of the price when you rent,” says Little, a Philadelphia resident. “You’re going to save about as much if you buy books online or resell them at the end of the semester, but renting them here is convenient. It’s a nice option to have.”
Bookstore manager Mary-Alice Diehl says about one-third of the store’s college textbooks are available for rent at 50 percent or more off the regular price. The books must be returned at the end of the semester.
“We have a national rental list of thousands of titles,” Diehl says. “We also have a few local titles used on the Rutgers–Camden campus. We’re getting very positive feedback on the program and it’s been very popular. You walk away with a book for less than half the price.”
The books available for rent are ones regularly used in college courses that are not specialty editions written f
Mary Beth Daisey, associate chancellor of student life at Rutgers–Camden, says the university signed on to the program in January after participating in a pilot program with 24 other schools.
“It’s a win-win for us and to do it makes a whole lot of sense,” Daisey says. “The students can write in the books, or highlight them. They just turn them in at the end of the semester. It helps those initial September costs for college.”
Students can pre-register for book rentals on rent-a-text.com or can register in the store when they make their purchases.
Textbooks have also made their way into the digital age as some are available in electronic form. The books can be downloaded onto a computer, but Daisey says ebooks haven’t really caught on at Rutgers–Camden.
“Students may just be used to their textbooks, so that’s why ebooks aren’t as popular,” Daisey says. “I think it could be that we need another generation of heavy netbook users before they catch on.”
The University District Bookstore has a listing of textbooks that can be downloaded.
“It’s not popular here, but it’s time is coming,” Diehl says.
The Rutgers School of Law–Camden started its fall 2010 semester Monday, Aug. 23. All other academic programs at Rutgers–Camden start on Wednesday, Sept. 1.
The University District Bookstore is operated under contract by the Follett Higher Education Group. It serves the Camden campuses of Rutgers University, Rowan University, and Camden County College.
Media Contact: Ed Moorhouse
856-225-6759
E-mail: ejmoor@camden.rutgers.edu