STUD ENT ’ S G U I DE TO
COURSE M AT E R I ALS
Ahem…we like to call these “pre-read.”
Share the knowledge, buy used and save at
least 25% less than the new textbook price.
WHERE DO I GET MY BOOKLIST?
Your booklist is available as soon as you register for
classes on AccessPlus. Just click “View Complete
Textbook List” and your booklist will appear. Textbooks
and course materials can be ordered directly from
your booklist plus you can compare your textbook
prices with Amazon and other popular online retailers.
Don’t carry your books in a backpack. Carry
them in your laptop! Save up to 50% less
than the price of a new book.
ISN’T IT TRUE TEXTBOOKS COST
MORE AT THE BOOK STORE?
Not at all! In fact, we’re so confident in our competitive
pricing, we allow you to compare textbook prices with
Amazon and other popular online retailers right from
our website. It’s super easy! Saving students money on
textbooks is important to us. Our price comparison tool
is so convenient you’ll want to tell all your ISU friends.
HOW DO I GET MY TEXTBOOKS?
Early Bird
Early Bird Textbook Reservation is the easiest way to
get first opportunity on used books. Select items from
your booklist online, we pull the books, you pick them up
when classes begin. It’s fast, easy and free. Hurry, the
early bird program is only available for a limited time.
Online
Login to AccessPlus and click on “View Complete Textbook List”. Add the course materials you wish to purchase. Input the address where you would like to receive
your delivery and complete your payment information.
In-Store
Do you like to pick out your own books? Go for it! We
are open 7 days a week for you to stop in and shop
for your course materials. Our textbooks are shelved
alphabetically by author for your convenience.
HOW MUCH WILL MY BOOKS COST?
The answer to this question depends on a number
of factors including your book preference and major.
Some majors may need more lab or art supplies so
that number could differ. Last semester, students who
reserved their textbooks spent an average of $400.
WHO DETERMINES WHAT BOOKS ARE
NEEDED FOR MY CLASSES?
Your instructors choose the specific book and edition
that will be used for your classes. Encourage your instructors to re-use the same book or an old edition
next semester to help keep textbook prices down.
WHAT IS THE RETURN POLICY ON TEXTBOOKS?
Students have the first week of classes to return textbooks for a full refund. Even better, during the second
week of school, if you have dropped a course, you can
still get a refund. You must have your receipt and be
sure the books are in the original purchased condition.
HOW DO I RENT MY TEXTBOOKS?
Whenever possible, we offer new and used books to be
rented rather than purchased. This allows you to rent a
textbook for a certain amount of time and return it at the
end of the rental period, which is at the end of the semester. Rental textbooks must be returned in good condition
with no damage done to the book and minimal marks
inside. Students can rent their textbooks in-store or online.
Renting your books is just like renting a
movie! Pay now and bring it back at the
end of the semester. Students typically
save 40% or more by renting.
Looseleaf books are just like traditional
textbooks but without the binding. They
are 3-hole punched so make sure to put
them in a binder!
Compare our book prices with those of
other major online retailers right on our
website. You might be surprised to see
how competitive our pricing can be!
WILL I NEED EBOOKS?
WHAT ELSE WILL I NEED FOR MY CLASSES?
Possibly. There are a few different types of digital course
material options at ISU: standard eBooks, access
codes, or inclusive access. Digital course materials are
still a new technology in the textbook world. An eBook
doesn’t exist for every book...yet. We are constantly
working with publishers to expand digital course materials available. All digital course materials at ISU are
accessible through browser based applications.
There are courses that may require or recommend materials other than textbooks. Some of those items include
coursepackets, Top Hat classroom response technology,
blue books, school, art or lab supplies. We’re a one-stopshop so you can get everything you need in one place!
WHAT IS AN ACCESS CODE?
Digital items are yours to keep, but most will
probably expire after a specified period of time.
An access code is a password you use to access course
content online, similar to a software license. The content depends on the course, but can include things such
as practice exam questions, interactive videos to help
you understand course concepts, and course assignments. If your professor requires you to purchase an
access code, it is because at least part of your grade
will be related to and/or come from the online content.
WHAT IS INCLUSIVE ACCESS AT ISU?
Inclusive access is a new textbook model that delivers digital course materials at a significant savings off
the market value of the traditional textbook. If your
faculty has chosen to use Inclusive Access for any of
your courses, details will be posted in your booklist in
AccessPlus. Students will receive access to the digital course materials on the first day of class and the
charge will be automatically billed to the student’s
university bill (U-Bill). Students can always request to
opt-out and receive a refund within the first 10 days of
class (5th day of class for partial semester courses).
WHAT DO I DO WITH MY COURSE MATERIALS
AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER?
Rental books are due back during finals week.
Don’t forget. Otherwise, you will be charged
for the replacement cost of the book.
If you purchased your books, either new or used, you
can keep them or sell them back to the book store
during buyback no matter where you bought them.
Buyback is a chance to sell your books for cash! It takes
place every day in the store, but you get the most money
during the end of the semester buyback. Yep, we pay you
cash, up to half of the purchase price of your books!
ISU STUDENTS
SAVED $3.4 MILLION
ON THEIR FALL 2016
TEXTBOOKS!
SAVE 7% EVERYDAY WITH NO SALES TAX
WE ’RE OWN ED & OPER ATED BY I OWA STAT E UNI V E RS IT Y. T HI S M E AN S T H E
MONEY YOU SPEND WITH US, STAYS RIGHT HERE ON CAMPUS TO SUPPORT ISU
Iowa State University Book Store
Memorial Union
Ames, Iowa 50011-1131
P: 1.800.478.0048 or 515.294.5684
E: [email protected]