Textbooks & Course Materials
What Kind of Course Materials Will I Need?
- The ob电子 bookstore sells and rents new and used materials, including textbooks, workbooks, and packets.
- Some programs require students to purchase all books as a bundle at the beginning of the program; the bookstore sells these, too. A bundle meets the definition of "low cost" when its price comes to less than $40.
- If you don’t have a print copy of your textbook, or simply don’t have it on campus when you need it, check at the Library Circulation Desk to see if it’s on reserve. You can check reserve books out for free for two hours or three days, depending on availability.
- The Center for Accessibility Resources (CFAR) has a free textbook lending library. When available, you can check out a book for the entire term. Visit CFAR in Red Cedar Hall, Room 105, or email, to check on the availability of a text.
- Course supplies might include paint brushes or paper for an art class.
- Hardware might include the required purchase of a laptop, clicker, or specific type of calculator for a course.
- Some of these materials may be available for free or low cost (see below).
- The Library offers free one- or three-day laptop checkouts.
- Some programs may require you to purchase equipment at the beginning of the program; these items are not reported to the bookstore and will not show up in a search for free or low-cost materials.
- OER are free textbooks and other materials that both you and your instructors can customize, share anywhere, and keep indefinitely.
- Sometimes you can purchase a low-cost print copy of an OER at the Campus Store; you can also print them yourself.
- MyOpenMath is a free/open math platform for your e-textbook and online homework. If your instructor uses MyOpenMath, they'll give you a code to join the class.
- Need help? You can get support for MyOpenMath from your instructor or the Math Desk in the Learning Center.
- In some courses, you may have to purchase a lab manual or homework access code in addition to the OER.
- Ebooks for some courses are available free online through the ob电子 Library. You’ll see info about this option in your syllabus, the Campus Store system and/or flyers in the Campus Store.
- You will need your ob电子 ID number and year of birth to access the ebook.
- If you need help accessing or using the features in the ebook, visit the Reference Desk in the Library or call (541) 917-4645.
- DDA refers to digital course materials offered directly through Moodle or another learning platform.
- Sometimes you can purchase a print copy of DDA materials for a low price, but only if you stay enrolled in DDA.
- DDA costs are charged at registration, meaning you can't purchase these materials used. However, because publishers know that all students are paying the fee, the cost is usually lower than the new textbook cost.
- You will be billed automatically for DDA unless you opt out or drop the class by the add/drop deadline. If you opt out, you may not be able to get to the online homework that comes with the DDA package. Talk your instructor before opting out.
- You may be able to find DDA materials for free or low cost (see below).
- Many courses at ob电子 have readings, assignments, and other content in the Moodle platform.
- If you have any trouble accessing Moodle, contact your instructor or the Student Help Desk in the Library (541-917-4630).
- Some instructors use platforms other than Moodle, such as Pearson’s MyMathLab, McGraw-Hill, Google Classroom, Canvas, or Cengage Unlimited.
- If you need help with these platforms, contact your instructor or the company directly. The Student Help Desk and Learning Center staff will try to provide support for any problems you run into, but they don’t have administrator access or training on these platforms.
- Some of these platforms are free. Others require you to purchase an access code, usually available from the Campus Store.
- Online access codes may also be required for other materials, such as textbooks, supplemental materials, tutorials, or online test-taking software; e.g. ALEKs and Sapling.
- You may be able to find access codes for free or low cost (see below).
- If your math course requires ALEKS, you can purchase a code for the term or the year in the Campus Store.
- Need help with ALEKS? Try the Math Cafe, or the Math Desk in the Learning Center.
How to Find Low-cost Materials
In the Student Scheduler Tool, you can filter your search results for courses that have zero-cost or low-cost materials. However, be aware that this info is gathered prior to registration, so not all courses with low-cost and zero-cost course materials are labeled, so your search results might not include all the options that are available to you. For more details, check out these FAQs on free and low-cost textbooks.
How to Rent Course Materials
It's easy.
- Shop online at the bookstore website or come in person to select your textbooks for the term.
- Then come to the bookstore to check out. When you're at the register, the cashier will tell you which books are available for rent and at what pricing, so you can choose whether to buy or rent the book.
- If you choose to rent, you'll be asked for your contact information, as well as your debit or credit card info to secure the rental.
- At the end of the term, return the book to the bookstore during finals week.
The only charge associated with renting the textbook is the rental fee. Your card is not charged for any additional fees unless the book is not returned. We require you to use a credit or debit card to ensure that the textbook is returned.
Renting from the bookstore is better than renting online in a few ways.
- You can get competitive pricing. Going online doesn't necessarily give you a better price.
- You are assured of getting the correct book based on the order received directly from your instructor.
- You don't have to wait for the book to be shipped to you.
- You don't have to pay for shipping, either to receive or return the book.
- You'll receive great customer service.
If the book is not returned, your credit card will be charged for the used retail price of the book, plus a $25 penalty if applicable.
You should inform the bookstore as soon as possible so we can try to find a workable solution.
Rental availability is based on the market value and national demand for the title. Not all books meet this criteria.
You can bring it back to any ob电子 bookstore location, but we prefer you return it to the same location where you rented it.
Our textbook rental program follows the same return policy as purchasing a textbook. You have until Friday of the first week of class, in most situations, to return your rental.
How to Sell Your Books
Give us Your Feedback
If you’re a student with ideas about how to make course materials more accessible or affordable, if you have questions, or if you want to get involved with textbook affordability efforts please contact the Textbook Affordability Steering Committee via Dionna Camp or Forrest Johnson.