Pablo Tobon | Daily Egyptian
SIUC’s textbook rental program will start off with materials mostly needed for core curriculum classes, said Lori Stettler, director of the Student Center.
“The program will focus particularly on core curriculum classes, more toward your general education classes,” Stettler said. “Students will still have the option to purchase the book, new or used, along with renting.”
A form will be sent out to faculty members next week to determine what books they wish to be allowed for rental, Stettler said. She said until then, there could not be a way of determining how many books will be available. The rental terms will also be decided at a later time.
The University Bookstore, together with the Follett Higher Education Group, will begin offering textbook rentals beginning in the fall semester.
While rental periods are decided on campus, the actual price of rentals are determined by Follett, said Elio DiStaola, director of public and campus relations of Follett. He said students could save more than 50 percent off the price of new books through rental.
The textbook rental program will be part of Follett’s Rent-A-Text plan. Follett, who is SIUC’s textbook provider, launched the program in fall 2009 at seven universities and now runs the program at 16 different universities across the country.
Stettler said the university wanted to see how successful Follett’s initial launch was before it decided to implement the program.
The University Bookstore will not be the only place in Carbondale for students to rent textbooks next fall.
Saluki Bookstore began offering textbook rentals this spring with more than 500 books available for semester rental, said Sue Loverude, manager of the bookstore. She said her store is likely to have even more textbooks available to rent next fall.
710 Bookstore will also begin offering rentals in July, said Randy Johnson, manager of 710 Bookstore.
Although his store will offer rentals, Johnson said students need to realize rentals are just another option of acquiring textbooks, with its own pros and cons. Among the disadvantages he sees with renting textbooks is that not all books will be available for rental, the inability to rent books with software or CDs built in and the lack of a textbook sellback.
“It takes a little more thought than what most students give it,” Johnson said. “A student can look at one book to purchase for $80, or rent it for $60. It would look cheaper, but you’re not thinking about the sellback option.”
He said students need to consider different scenarios before deciding on whether to purchase or rent a book.
The multiple opportunities for students to acquire books can only be beneficial, Stettler said. She said, however, that renting straight from a bookstore could prevent the unknown compared to renting online.
“The program allows students to come to the bookstore and know they will be getting their books,” she said. “You go online to rent or purchase, and you have nobody there to back you up if something goes wrong. You rent your book and have some kind of issue here you can go to us, student services; someone will help you.”
Loverude said although there may be some competition between the stores, all that matters in the end is saving students money.
“The one thing I can say is that we want to save the student money,” she said.
Ryan Voyles can be reached at rvoyles@dailyegyptian.com or 536-3311 ext. 259.
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