One of the most expensive parts of going to college can be paying for books. Despite the convenience of the Stanford Bookstore, you could benefit from considering other options. Ordering books online will often allow you to save money. You might also want to consider renting books or downloading e-book versions.

Check the FLI Library

In the Diversity and First Gen Office you might find a copy of the textbook you need that you can borrow for free. Books are donated by Stanford students to be a part of the First Generation Low Income (FLI) Library, where students can borrow books for the quarter they need them and return them when finished. If you have books at the end of the quarter that you no longer want to keep, please consider donating to the FLI Library to help out your classmates. To see what is in stock click here and to see when the FLI Library is open click here.

Ask to Borrow/Buy/Rent From a Classmate

At the start and end of each quarter, you will be able to find students who are either actively selling/renting books or are willing to lend a book to a friend for a quarter. Feel free to ask friends whom you know in person, but also keep an eye out for books on Free and For Sale, SUPost.com, and on email lists that you belong to.

Buying textbooks

Here is a list of websites where you can order textbooks at affordable prices. The best sites allow you to compare prices to make sure you are getting the best possible deals. Be sure that you are searching in the “Used”sections to make sure you are actually saving money.

• Amazon.com
• Abebooks.com*(hosts international versions of textbooks that are in English but frequently with thinner pages and non color pictures)
• Barnesandnoble.com
• Cheapesttextbooks.com
• Ecampus.com
• Half.com
• Isbn.nu
• Textbookx.com

When ordering things online, be sure to consider both the cost and length of shipping. You want to give yourself enough time to use the textbook before you are too far behind in any readings. There will be copies of textbooks on reserve at the library so you will be able to get psets done while you wait for your book to come in the mail.

Renting Textbooks

If you aren’t looking for a long-term commitment from your textbook, renting it for just the time that you need it might be a better option than buying. Keep in mind that many universities operate on a semester schedule, so you may end up having to rent a textbook for a semester instead of a quarter. Start your textbook renting search by reviewing these sites:

• http://www.chegg.com
• http://www.textbookrentals.com
• http://www.bookrenter.com

E-Textbooks

Another option to consider is to search for electronic versions of your textbook or e-textbook. You should check in with older students about the current “preferred provider” of e-textbooks. Asking a member at FLIP would be a great place to start.

If you any encounter any issues or broken links email stanfordfliguide@gmail.com