While the Nielsen Library generally does not purchase textbooks, it is possible you may be able to find some of your required books at the library.

Here are some places to check before you start shelling out for books:

Library Catalog

If you’re taking a class that requires books other than textbooks (such as a literature class) it is much more likely that you’ll be able to find your book in the library. Check the library catalog.

Reserves

The library has a Reserve Collection with materials that professors have asked us to set aside for students. A professor may choose to put a personal copy of a textbook in the Reserve Collection. These books can be checked out for one hour at a time.

Prospector

We belong to a large library system called Prospector. It is possible (though not likely) that you may be able to get a textbook from another library in the Prospector system. Go to http://prospectorhome.coalliance.org/ to search for your book.

If you do have to buy your textbooks, here’s some tips for saving money:

Buy Used

Unless your class requires a brand new edition of a textbook, chances are you can save a lot of money by buying used books, either in the Adams State University Bookstore, or online.

Comparison Shop Online

Many online book sellers offer deals on new and used textbooks. Save time by using a comparison service like textbooksplease.com or book.ly to compare prices on dozens of sites at once.

Rent

A number of vendors, including the Adams State University Bookstore, now offer rental programs for textbooks. Check out the rental options and prices at Amazon, Half.com, Cengage Brain, Bookrenter, and ecampus.

Go Electronic

eTextbooks are often significantly cheaper than their print counterparts, and most vendors offer eTextbooks for both sale and rental. Many eTextbooks allow you to highlight text and take notes. Be sure to check the system requirements and features before buying eBooks.  Amazon, CourseSmart, Cengage Brain, and ecampus all offer eTextbooks. Cengage Brain sells individual chapters of some eBooks.

Try Open Source

Sites like Open Culture, Open Stax, and Flat World Knowledge offer free open source textbooks. Open source books are still fairly new, so don’t expect many choices. The texts are free though, so it’s worth a shot.

Buy Older Editions

Textbook publishers come out with new editions fairly regularly. Sometimes these new editions have significant changes, but other times the changes are minor. Ask your professor if an older edition can be used.