How Do I...?

Textbooks are not cheap, but you need them if you want to excel in your classes. Here are a few tips and locations where you may find cheaper versions.

Tips to Try

• Rent instead of buy. (See a list of websites below.)
• Buy used.
• Buy the book from another student who has taken the class before.
• Check with the UDC Library to see if they or other local libraries have the book or e-book.
• Request the book through ILL (These items can take two weeks to arrive and have short loan periods).
• Check with your professor to see if it’s okay to use an earlier edition of the book.
• Sell your old textbooks to fund your new books. 

NOTE: Some textbooks come with a digital access code that you need to access quizzes, tests, and assignments. If your class requires this code, you will need to buy a new textbook.

How to Buy Used Textbooks

If you decide to buy a used textbook, make sure to keep the following in mind:

• Order the right edition of the book. 
• Search by ISBN whenever possible. You’re more likely to get the right copy.
• Be careful with foreign editions. They may be cheaper, but the content (particularly assignments and quizzes) can be different.
• Read up on the used copy’s condition - some books are like new, others will include highlighting and notes in the margins
• See where the book ships from - if the book is coming from overseas, it may not arrive in time.
• Consider shipping costs. 
• Look at multiple used copy listings before picking one to buy.

You can find used textbooks on the following websites:

• AddAll.com (used section)
• Alibris
• AllBookstores.com
• Amazon** 
• Barnes and Noble**
• CampusBooks.com**
• Chegg**
• Ebay
• Ecampus.com**
• Paperbackswap.com

(**) You can also rent books from these websites