10 Alternatives To Buying a New Textbook

As textbooks prices rise to new heights every year, it is important for students to realize a new textbook is not the only option. Here are 10 alternatives to buying a new textbook that will hopefully help save students money for other important things like rent, tuition and beer!

1. Rent Your Textbooks

amazon.com

The University Book Store offers book rentals for large enrollment classes primarily in the freshman and sophomore level. Amazon.com also offers textbook rentals at very affordable rates.

2. Buy Used or Secondhand Textbooks

Many bookstores on campus offered secondhand textbooks. Both the University Book Store and independent bookstores, like A Room of One's Own and Rainbow Books, offer used textbook options and convenient return policies should you drop a class.

3. Use Your Professor's Notes

Via Professor Diana Rivard

Professors often upload their own lecture notes or powerpoint slides to Learn@UW, making a textbook almost redundant for some classes.

4. Borrow From the Library

The UW-Madison Libraries have certain print textbooks on reserve for students to temporarily checkout. If you feel like you may only need a textbook before exams for review, this may be a good option for you.

5. Buy Your Textbooks Online

Amazon.com and other e-commerce stores have some amazing deals on new, used and eTextbooks. You may lose out on the convenience of in-store returns, but the online pricing can't be beat.

6. Share Textbooks with Friends or Classmates

Via Jan Cheetham

Utilize older friends or siblings who may be able to pass textbooks on to you. UW-Madison is an academic community. More likely than not, a classmate is probably willing to share notes and textbooks.

7. Use the Online Course Reserves

library.wisc.edu

Some classes provide articles, notes and even entire textbooks through the UW-Madison Libraries' Course Reserves. Check the many databases available through the UW-Madison Libraries' homepage to see if the content you are looking for has already been purchased by the university.

8. Look for eTextbook Options

coursesmart.com

Prices for eTextbooks are usually cheaper than their print counterparts. Comparison shop the eText format to see if you could save yourself money and your backpack from another heavy textbook.

9. Try Illegal Downloads

thepiratebay.sx

This should certainly not be your first choice, but torrenting textbooks is a growing trend on college campuses. If you decide to attempt this illicit activity, sites like The Pirate Bay offer a wide variety of titles in many subjects.

10. Forget Studying. Head to the Terrace!

Sometimes the best option is to forget about school and focus on having fun instead. Maybe it's not the most realistic advice, but it's certainly something every UW-Madison student has considered.