New options to acquire books emerge
Stephanie Guzman
Posted on: 9/16/09 Section: Features
There are new ways to cope with the dreaded and painful task of textbook shopping. Various publishing companies and websites are offering different options to get a textbook for less.
Book swapping is one example. Swaptree.com is one of the websites dedicated to this practice. Here users can trade textbooks to each other at a bargain price.
Business major Israel Lopez has done book swapping before, but the old fashioned way.
"I swapped with my group of friends," he said. " I would lend my book to my friend and he would give me his."
Thanks to websites such as BookRenter.com, textbook rentals are another emerging option for students.
The practice is becoming more widespread as schools such as California State University, Sacramento, and textbook publishers like Cengage Learning offer it as a substitute for buying books to help those who cannot afford them.
Leslie Thompson, manager of the PCC bookstore, is aware of both book swapping and textbook rentals.
"There's been a mixed reaction from the school on the two," she said.
Thompson said she doesn't think rentals have hurt bookstore sales.
"I don't think it directly affected our business since only a few have heard of it," she said.
She also said, however, that the bookstore may offer textbook rentals in the future.
"We are open to explore any options, but we haven't gotten there yet," she said.
The manager of the Pasadena Book Mart, Ignacio Medrano, likes the option.
"It's a good idea but it depends on the costs," he said. "Textbook rentals help students who can't afford buying books."
Medrano feels that the wider variety of options hasn't hurt his business.
"Sales are down, but I don't think it's because of the (textbook) rentals and book swapping," he said. "I think it's because of the budget cuts."
Medrano is also considering employing this option.
"I haven't researched textbook rentals but I would offer it when I know more information about it," he said.
"When it comes down to cost, book rentals would not be a bad idea," said Jihan Cazares, a sociology major who usually purchases her books at the PCC bookstore.
"Not only will it be cheaper, but it will also benefit students as they will save money and time."
Book swapping is one example. Swaptree.com is one of the websites dedicated to this practice. Here users can trade textbooks to each other at a bargain price.
Business major Israel Lopez has done book swapping before, but the old fashioned way.
"I swapped with my group of friends," he said. " I would lend my book to my friend and he would give me his."
Thanks to websites such as BookRenter.com, textbook rentals are another emerging option for students.
The practice is becoming more widespread as schools such as California State University, Sacramento, and textbook publishers like Cengage Learning offer it as a substitute for buying books to help those who cannot afford them.
Leslie Thompson, manager of the PCC bookstore, is aware of both book swapping and textbook rentals.
"There's been a mixed reaction from the school on the two," she said.
Thompson said she doesn't think rentals have hurt bookstore sales.
"I don't think it directly affected our business since only a few have heard of it," she said.
She also said, however, that the bookstore may offer textbook rentals in the future.
"We are open to explore any options, but we haven't gotten there yet," she said.
The manager of the Pasadena Book Mart, Ignacio Medrano, likes the option.
"It's a good idea but it depends on the costs," he said. "Textbook rentals help students who can't afford buying books."
Medrano feels that the wider variety of options hasn't hurt his business.
"Sales are down, but I don't think it's because of the (textbook) rentals and book swapping," he said. "I think it's because of the budget cuts."
Medrano is also considering employing this option.
"I haven't researched textbook rentals but I would offer it when I know more information about it," he said.
"When it comes down to cost, book rentals would not be a bad idea," said Jihan Cazares, a sociology major who usually purchases her books at the PCC bookstore.
"Not only will it be cheaper, but it will also benefit students as they will save money and time."
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