Appalachian State University Undergraduate Textbook Rental Program

UNDERGRADUATE PURCHASES: Undergraduate students may purchase rental textbooks - at Replacement Cost, at any time.

GRADUATE STUDENTS, STUDENT TEACHERS, EXTENSION AND DISTANCE EDUCATION STUDENTS, and SUMMER SCHOOL STUDENTS MUST PURCHASE TEXTBOOKS.

Dates for picking up rental textbooks:

PLACE: University Bookstore Top Level
TIMES: Open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Open Monday through Friday except for some extended hours the first and last week each semester

Fall Semester	Spring Semester	Summer Semester
August 18, 2007	January 12, 2008	NO RENTALS / MUST PURCHASE BOOKS

Returning Textbooks - Please be on time:

PLACE: University Bookstore Top Level
TIMES: Open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Open Monday through Friday except for some extended hours the first and last week each semester

Fall Semester	Spring Semester	Summer Semester
December 13, 2007	May 8, 2008	Check for Summer Semester buy back

Faculty and Textbook Rental Information

As noted in the General Bulletin the rental program provides the main textbook for undergraduate courses.

The adoption of a textbook is considered a Departmental Adoption, not an individual adoption. Establishment and implementation of specific selection procedures for rental textbooks are left to the discretion of the individual departments. One textbook per course number may be adopted and that text will be utilized for all sections of the designated course.

Textbooks are adopted for undergraduate courses only in the Fall and Spring semesters. No rental fee is assessed during the Summer sessions and rental textbooks are purchased. Rental books purchased for Summer classes are bought back from students at one half the purchase price, should they elect not to keep them. Only one book per course is allowed at this time. Adoptions are for three years or six semesters not to include summer. The bookstore does not participate in the selection of the text but provides input on request.

New textbook adoptions are for a minimum of three years, beginning in Fall or Spring semester. Within the three year term, it is expected courses utilizing the adopted textbook will be offered a total of six times, and for courses offered only in the Fall or Spring semester, a total of three times. New adoptions are not accepted for the Summer term. All new adoptions require the approval of the Departmental Chairperson.

Other Important Information

A. Requisition dates and forms.
Due dates for rental department, graduate text and supplemental text are the same time each year.

October 10 for books used for Spring Semester
March 3 for books used for Summer term
March 10 for books used for Fall Semester

When the due date falls on a holiday or weekend day forms will be due the next business day.

B. How do I get a desk copy?
Forms for requesting a desk copy are available from the Departmental Book Coordinator.

Faculty Questions about the Rental Program

Why don't I get to choose the book I want? You may not be able to use the book you prefer but the decision as to which book is used is a departmental decision and not the University Bookstore's. Currently the rental program allows for only one text per course and the department makes that decision.

Are there exceptions made if I don't like the book or a better book has come out? Yes, exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis. There are times when a publisher markets a text that has numerous errors or a new faculty member arrives to teach an existing course. The Bookstore considers these factors and others as well as the financial impact before making any exceptions. All request for early adoption require the signature of the Departmental Chair.

What if the book alone does not cover the information I wish to present? Can I have two rental books instead of one? The rental requires the main text to be placed on the rental program. Only one book per course is allowed. Any supplemental or consumable materials are sold through the Scholars Bookshop. Books are cross-referenced to assure students that the primary text is being rented. A good rule of thumb is that the cost of supplemental material should not exceed the cost of the main text. This is usually not a problem since the main text is usually sufficient.

Why do we have a rental program? Students should buy their books to build their personal library. Can they purchase the rental book at the end of the semester? Textbook rental has proven to be the most economical way for providing students with one of the most valuable tools for their education. Nationally students spend close to $300 per semester on books while the rental fee at this time is only $76. Students may purchase and keep any rental text. A discount is given when a student wishes to keep their rental text.

Can a paperback book be selected for the rental text? Yes, as the rental program has evolved to define supplemental material, a requirement that the rental book be hard bound also has changed allowing paperbound books as well.

The publisher has offered free stuff if their book is chosen. Since it is more than one item can this be used as the rental book? The text chosen is what the Bookstore will place on the rental program. The rental program allows for one text, per course, all sections of a course using the same text. The adoption period for each course is three years. A disk or cd is may be included if permanently attached to the book. Usually the disk or cd is secured inside the back of the book. Other materials may be adopted with the text and will be sold as supplemental material. We will order the text based on the publisher provided ISBN for the book not the bundle provided ISBN.

In order to keep cost down for the rental program and for students purchasing supplemental material the Bookstore first tries to purchase books from nationwide wholesalers that provide used copies of textbooks and other supplemental material.