Olessia Lapina
Contributor
Textbook expenses are an unavoidable reality for students at the start of each semester.
However, according to York bookstore director Steven Glassman, the textbook rental program “hasn’t grown as fast as we would have liked” since its initial launch at the beginning of the 2010–2011 winter semester.
Despite the rental option — which can potentially save students up to 75 per cent on textbook costs — Glassman states that the lack of immediate accessibility may be the reason for the slow growth.
“Rented books have to be shipped, which has delays,” he says. “It would be much more satisfying if rental books were physically available in the store.”
He confirmed the bookstore is working to have rental copies immediately available on premises to further expand the program.
As of now, rentals can be accessed through the York bookstore’s website where, once an order is placed, the textbooks will be shipped to the specified address. According to Glassman, there have been no complaints from students who do use the program.
Rental textbooks overlooked
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