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Best place for cheap course books?

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As my daughter is in her first year at uni. it appears she needs several course books throughout the year, sometimes needing only a small passage from the book as I'm sure most students will have been in a similar situation.
Therefore would anybody have any tips as to where to get cheap books as some of the ones I've been sourcing are £80 upwards!
I've tried e-bay and Amazon but they are almost as much second hand as new!
Thanks in appreciation.
«13

Comments

  • The_One_Who
    The_One_Who Posts: 2,418 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    The library.

    Only buy a book if you really need it, as in you will be referencing it regularly and it could do you for more than one course and/or year.
  • Oldernotwiser
    Oldernotwiser Posts: 37,425 Forumite
    ^^^^ As above.

    There are very few books students actually need to own. If she only needs to utilise a section she doesn't even need to take it out but can photocopy the section from one that's for library use only.
  • onejontwo
    onejontwo Posts: 1,089 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts
    Thanks for that,"the one who" but the only problem is that on the course when they are prompted to obtain the relevant book there is a mad rush to the library and as it's a first come first served basis, many lose out. Therefore back to my original question.
  • The_One_Who
    The_One_Who Posts: 2,418 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    No, she just needs to learn how to use the library to her advantage.

    There should be the option to 'recall' a book that has been borrowed, or there may be a reference section. If not a reference section she might be able to access a restricted loan section which means books can only be loaned for a few hours or a day. If a book is going to be needed by everyone, she should ask the library if they can do something to make it more accessible to everyone.

    Also, you can often find the same information in different books. Again, learning to use the library. This is especially the case in first year when the required information tends to be more general, rather than specialist. If you can't find it in a book, then there may be the option to find it online via e-books, or even journal articles.
  • Mrs_Money
    Mrs_Money Posts: 1,602 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    edited 10 February 2011 at 7:51PM
    Check out Amazon or the Book Depository, both post free - one or the other usually has what you want. Amazon of course has even cheaper second hand copies (they do have postage charge)- just make sure you search by isbn. number to get the correct edition!
    HTH!

    Edit - forgot about Abe Books as well.
  • onejontwo
    onejontwo Posts: 1,089 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts
    No, she just needs to learn how to use the library to her advantage.

    There should be the option to 'recall' a book that has been borrowed, or there may be a reference section. If not a reference section she might be able to access a restricted loan section which means books can only be loaned for a few hours or a day. If a book is going to be needed by everyone, she should ask the library if they can do something to make it more accessible to everyone.

    Also, you can often find the same information in different books. Again, learning to use the library. This is especially the case in first year when the required information tends to be more general, rather than specialist. If you can't find it in a book, then there may be the option to find it online via e-books, or even journal articles.

    Well I bow to your superior knowledge of libraries, I never realized they had these options as my past experience of libraries consisted of borrowing a book and returning it several weeks later! I thank you for this insight and will pass this tip on.
  • The library
    Bookbutler.com
  • a lot of students sell their textbooks when they are done - look out in student union for notices, online noticeboards, and amazon has good price 2nd hand uni books
  • onejontwo wrote: »
    No, she just needs to learn how to use the library to her advantage.

    There should be the option to 'recall' a book that has been borrowed, or there may be a reference section. If not a reference section she might be able to access a restricted loan section which means books can only be loaned for a few hours or a day. If a book is going to be needed by everyone, she should ask the library if they can do something to make it more accessible to everyone.

    Also, you can often find the same information in different books. Again, learning to use the library. This is especially the case in first year when the required information tends to be more general, rather than specialist. If you can't find it in a book, then there may be the option to find it online via e-books, or even journal articles.

    Well I bow to your superior knowledge of libraries, I never realized they had these options as my past experience of libraries consisted of borrowing a book and returning it several weeks later! I thank you for this insight and will pass this tip on.

    Academic libraries can be quite different from normal lending libraries. Most universities will have set books available for a limited number of hours for use within the library as well as short term loans ( a few days) for students to take out.
  • Amazon or Play would have been my suggestions - I managed to get a lot of my course books brand new from the likes of the Book Depository or Aphrodite Books who sell through the trader sections for less than the new book is from Amazon. Or try second hand books from the bookshop on campus.

    Also, some universities may have a book amnesty - my uni certainly used to for the English Society, where the second and third years would give away their old course books to the younger students.
    "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister
    Married my best friend 1st November 2014
    Loose = the opposite of tight (eg "These trousers feel a little loose")
    Lose = the opposite of find/gain (eg "I'm going to lose weight this year")
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