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Textbook Alternatives for Faculty

How to Reduce Students' Textbook Costs

  1. Use Open Educational Resources in the classroom: When developing a new course or revamping an old one, look into using open textbooks or other alternative learning materials.
  2. Use course reserves through the Library: If you are only using a portion of a textbook as required reading, rather than have the students purchase it, consider putting a copy on reserve in the Library.  Students can check out the book and read what's needed or they can scan it to refer to it later.
  3. Don't buy into the publishers' online text packs and add-on study materials: Don't require students to purchase additional study materials from the publishers:

  • They can be costly for the students

  • The student often times don't use them

  • Access codes are often times single use so the sell back value of the book is decreased

  1. Use resources readily available to you:

  • Use articles available through the Library's databases

  • Use books (print and electronic) already available through the Library

  • Talk with the Library about purchasing materials (i.e. academic books, eBooks, etc.)

  • Consult with your subject librarian for assistance locating materials, both OER and library.

  1.  Communicate with your students:

  • Let your students know as early as possible which books are required reading for your class, this gives them time to shop around.

  • Make sure your syllabi are up-to-date; make sure that Suggested Readings aren't listed as Required Readings

  • Let students know if it's okay for them to use an older edition of the textbook.

  • Let new students know about textbook rentals and other alternatives to purchasing a textbook

  1. Consider sticking with older versions of a textbook: Updates to editions are usually minor. Consider sticking with older editions of textbooks, they are much less expensive.
  2. Communicate with the campus bookstore:

  • Get your orders in early so the bookstore knows which books to buy back and keep in stock

  • Let them know if you would like to keep using an older edition

  1. Talk with your librarians: We may have a suggestions for materials for your classes.

Source: Open Educational Resources (OER): 8 Easy Things, Archbishop Alemany Library, Dominican University of California