Many students routinely spend hundreds of dollars a semester on textbooks at bookstores, causing some to search for other cheaper options.

While some students find dealing with the University Bookstore is the easiest option, they also realize this can get pricey.

Junior Brittany McCann deals exclusively with the on-campus bookstore.

‘Some are expensive but I buy used so it’s not bad,’ she said. ‘I think they try to keep costs down but I know it’s hard, and professors see the prices and try to accommodate.’

Junior Justin Rodriguez also purchases his textbooks at the University Bookstore because it is ‘easier to get it right here.’

‘It is easy to find what you need, but it is very overpriced,’ he said.

Course Materials Manager Steve Overholt said there are different ways the University Bookstore tries to keep costs down for students. When changing books, faculty is encouraged to choose a book they will use for at least four semesters. This also allows the bookstore to provide textbook rentals to students, he said.

The bookstore also buys books back from students at 50 percent of the price of a new textbook before buying from wholesalers, Overholt said. This allows the school to help students first, as well as save on the cost of buying from other sources. When they do buy from other sources, they purchase used textbooks whenever possible.

One thing students may have noticed when buying and selling books is the separate section for athletes. Overholt shed some light on this.

‘Book scholarships for athletics are placed through the athletics department,’ he said.

Because of this, they are separated from other students, who order their own books.

Despite this, students still get only a fraction of their original money back from bookstore buybacks. However, this does not mean the bookstores are turning a huge profit. In fact, this is not usually the case.

Students have three main options for buying textbooks in town. They are the University Bookstore, Student Book EXchange and Beat the Bookstore.

No solid numbers were given by the local bookstores, but for the previous fiscal year, Overholt said the University Bookstore posted a small loss after scholarships and SBX Manager Kent Kokomoor said they don’t usually make a lot of money off books.

‘Books are the least profitable thing in the store,’ he said.

Outside of bookstores, students have other options for saving money, including OhioLINK, which allows students to get books on loan from university libraries in Ohio.

Interim Dean of University Libraries Sara Bushong said the program runs through Jerome Library.

‘We often suggest students check OhioLINK because it is a great way to save money,’ Bushong said. ‘Primary promotion comes from the library through the web page.’

BGSU is a founding member of OhioLINK and participates in various committees aimed at improving the program.

Students can also rent certain textbooks, buy from online sources such as Amazon.com or Buy.com, buy international editions or check the course reserves at Jerome Library.

In order to save money, some students choose to buy only required textbooks, or textbooks that they feel are necessary.

Freshman John Holland spent about $350 on textbooks and saved money by purchasing only specific textbooks. His method has worked thus far.

‘There has only been one time where I needed a book that I didn’t buy,’ he said. ‘I have been getting along fine without.’

With the high prices of textbooks and the poor economy, it is up to each student to find which option works best for them.