Rent, Don’t buy Your Textbooks this Semester!
By Michael Salazar
This semester Florida Tech students have the option of renting their text books Florida
Tech’s Barnes & Noble bookstore. Rather than buy often-costly textbooks required for a class,
students now have the option of saving money by renting your next books. By renting textbooks
Florida Tech students can expect to save more than 50% over the cost of buying a new book.
The rental program is the result of a proactive pilot program that is in response to the students
who have been looking for alternatives to the rising costs of education.
Ms. Ellie Turner, Florida Tech’s bookstore manager, has heard the students’ concerns,
complaints, and issues over the past semesters about the high cost of the text books.
“We now offer a textbook rental program for students, says Turner. Our program is easy,
convenient, and will save you over 50% on your textbooks. You can also rent your books from
our website as well as our store.”
Ms. Turner summed up the why: “It makes common sense,” she said. “With the current
economy something had to happen to help, and this program is just what we need.”
She explained that students can pay for their rental books in many ways: cash, credit
card, debit card, Panther Cash, and Student Financial Aid. All rentals require a credit card to be
kept on file as security regardless of what was used to pay for the textbook. The rental period is
for the entire semester/term and can be returned in person or mailed back to the bookstore.
Books rented from the Florida Tech bookstore can be highlighted, marked and notated
just as any other textbook, but must remain in a useable condition. The rentals must be returned
no later than ten days after the last day of finals.
There are a few other things to know about the program. Not all textbooks are available
for rental, but Ms. Turner expects to include more titles as the program grows over time. Returns
will be treated with the same policy of any Florida Tech purchased books. All books must come
with the receipt, and be in original condition during the first week of school. If anyone decides to
buy the book, they can convert the rental to a direct purchase during the first two weeks of class.
Ms. Turner has made sure that her store sales associates are ready for the changes and
that they have the information you need to rent books.
“Renting books offers an option that makes sense and saves money,” Sales associate
Pierre Slack said. “We’re students too.” Slack is an Engineering Management major.
The bookstore is open from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, though it will
have extended hours at the beginning of the semester.