As the new term approaches, there is always the excitement of the new classes to look forward to. However, when reading the syllabuses, there is always the mandatory reading and books which put you off. College in itself is expensive and the cost of buying new textbooks adds to this debt. Instead of buying new textbooks every semester, there are other alternatives at Mount Holyoke College.
1. The “Free Bins,” every dorm
The “Free Bins” are located in the basement of every dorm at Mount Holyoke College. Students may leave things they no longer want and may take anything they like from the free bins. At the beginning of last semester, although I had already purchased all of my textbooks, following a trip to the free bins, I discovered a selection of my textbooks across several dorms. Here is a link to a blog which uploads some of the new items in the free bins.
2. The Odyssey Bookshop, the Village Commons
Located directly across the street from campus, the Odyssey Bookshop is a great home to many textbooks. The bookstore sells new and old textbooks. Whilst the new textbooks are usually overpriced in comparison with buying the textbooks online, if you need a textbook immediately, the best thing about the Odyssey is that they are guaranteed to have the required books you need at the start of every semester.
The Odyssey Bookstore, The Village Commons.
3. The Williston Library, Mount Holyoke College
When buying textbooks, think about it a little–do you actually need the book? The Mount Holyoke College Williston Library is a great resource and contains several copies of popular books. The various e-books available are great for electronic devices and will prevent you from having to actually buy the book. In addition to this, being part of the Five College Consortium gives students access to the Five College Library database, and students are able to rent books out from any of the colleges for up to a month. This can also save you lots of money every term.
The Williston Library, Mount Holyoke College.
4. Free E-books, the internet
Many classics and popular books are available online for free. By simply typing the name of your book and the author, followed by e-book into a search engine, such as Google, you can access a huge library of free e-books. Alternatively, sites like Amazon and Project Gutenburg are great for access to many free e-books. If you have an e-book reader such as a Kindle, a Kobo, or an iPad, you can upload the book onto it, again saving you money.
5. Amazon
In comparison with most online services for books, Amazon has proven to be the most loyal. You can order most books from here and can get them for great prices, new or old. The only thing you need to ensure is that you have selected the correct delivery rate, as in some instances, I have bought books without realizing it takes over four weeks to arrive.
Wherever you decide to buy textbooks, it is best to get it out of the way at the beginning of the term, as you can make your money’s worth out of it. Make sure you compare the prices before buying a certain book and ensure you have the correct edition of a book. Remember, you may not actually have to buy every book, there is always an alternative.