Ancilla College provides textbook rentals to students as part of your tuition. Please see the FAQ section and the links for specific information about the textbook rental program.

Dates to remember: Friday, August 18, 2020--This is the ABSOLUTELY LAST DAY to return your summer books. If you return them after this date, you will officially be purchasing them and you will be billed for them.

Fall semester books are already being prepped for shipment! If you haven't yet enrolled for fall, please do so, since that helps eCampus get your books to us in a timely fashion.

Feel free to email me at cassaundra.bash@ancilla.edu to ask questions that may not be answered below.

FAQ

Who supplies the textbooks?

eCampus.

Do I need to order my textbooks through eCampus myself?

No, everything is done for you through Empower when you enroll. If you drop and/or add a class, Empower will update eCampus's system called FAST. If you drop a class for which you received a textbook, please return the textbook as soon as possible so that it can be taken off your eCampus record. Remember that these are rentals (with a few exceptions) so you'll need to return most, if not all, of your books at the end of the semester. Returning books from dropped classes immediately means one less book you have to remember to return later.

Are textbooks purchased or rented?

Rented for the most part, but some books are purchased. These are things like workbooks and digital access codes--items that are meant to be one-time use only. Vet nursing books are primarily purchased.

Since they're rented, does that mean I can't highlight anything?

• Highlighting is allowed--provided you're not using the textbook as a coloring book and highlighting every line! :)
• You can also make notes in the margins, as long as you aren't writing over the textbook content so that they can't be seen or read.
• What you can't do: rip out pages or otherwise damage the book, highlight entire long paragraphs and pages; write or draw obscene or offensive words, phrases, or pictures; write, draw, or scribble over the words, pictures, graphs, illustrations, etc. Remember that other students will be renting the book after you return it, so make sure you return a copy that can still be read!

How will I know if my textbooks are available?

An email will be sent to the email that eCampus has tied to your account. This is usually your Ancilla email. Be aware that this email is triggered when the books arrive at the shipping/receiving building and they may not be at the designated location for textbook pickup (the Ancilla College Library) right away. It may take a few hours for your books to be brought over and officially checked in so you may be asked to come back.

Where and how do I pick up my books?

• The Ancilla College Library distributes and collects the physical books. You'll need to bring your student ID or another photo ID, such as a driver's license, as proof of your identity to pick up books. NOTE: Due to COVID-19 precautions, we are making a few changes to the distribution process for Fall 2020. Please see the section below this one for how Fall 2020 distribution will be handled.
• For instructions on accessing electronic textbooks and digital codes, please click here.

COVID-19 has me worried about standing in a line in the library to pick up my textbook(s). What precautions are in place to keep me from getting sick?

To minimize lines, we have worked out a distribution system that reduces how many students will need to stand in line:

• All dorm students will have their boxes taken to their rooms and distributed by the RAs.
• Members of a sports team who are not in the dorms will have their coaches distribute their boxes to them.
• Nursing students who are not in the dorms or on a sports team will have their boxes distributed by a nursing instructor.
• All students not covered in the above--the non-athlete, non-nursing commuters--can pick their books up from the library, preferably by setting an appointment.

Suggestions for removing textbooks from the boxes and parcels:

• Open the box, preferably with gloves that can be disposed of or washed, and remove the books.
• Break down the box right away and dispose of it, either in trash or recycling, and if you weren't wearing gloves, immediately wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after disposing of the box. If wearing gloves, remove and throw away disposable gloves or immediately soak washable gloves in hot water and soap.
• The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) say that the virus can live up to approximately 2-3 days on surfaces such as book covers. While the books were likely in transit to the College for that amount of time already, if you wish, set the books aside for 3 days and do not touch them until the quarantine period has ended.

What happens if I need a textbook for more than one semester?

When you enroll in a class that is a continuation of another class (Writing I & II, Anatomy & Physiology I & II, etc.), eCampus's system sees that and, provided that you enroll for the continuation class before the end of the current semester, it will roll over the rental so that you don't have to return that book. If you have questions about whether a book is a continuation, or whether the system has rolled it over for you, please contact the Ancilla College Library.

My rental is in bad condition, or it was supposed to come with a code inside but there wasn't one. What do I do?

• Your first point of contact is the Director of Library Services. She can contact eCampus directly regarding your book. If you would rather contact eCampus yourself, the customer service number is 877-322-6787, office hours Monday--Friday 9 A.M.--5 P.M. EST. Generally, if there are missing pages, excessive writing/highlighting (when it covers entire pages and makes the words hard to see), bad tears, or other damage and this is reported immediately to eCampus, they will send a replacement copy right away. After receiving your books, please look them over for excessive wear.
• Missing codes may require you to contact the company that publishes the book and code with proof of purchase. The Director of Library Services can provide you with the proof electronically, or you can log onto your account (follow the account setup and login instructions above), but you'll have to send that proof of purchase or receipt to the company. Calling the company, rather than emailing, is recommended at first so that you can thoroughly explain immediately to support what your problem is. They will be able to tell you an email address to contact with the proof of purchase.
• For Cengage Learning, support help is 800-354-9706.
• For Elsevier (Evolve), support help is 800-222-9570.

Can I see what textbooks I have and when they're due?

• Yes, you will need to log onto the Ancilla eCampus site. Every student has an eCampus account, set up automatically by their system when you first enroll. To access your account, click on the "My Account" link; if this is the first time you are logging in, click on the "Forgot your password?" link and use your Ancilla email account (first name.last name@ancilla.edu) to trigger a password reset email. You'll need to check your Ancilla email to get to the link and set up a password to allow you access.
• This is also how you log in to get to any eBook versions of textbooks and digital software codes such as the Hawkes math courses.

Where and how do I return them?

• Again, the library collects the books; library staff will remove books from your account so that eCampus won't charge you for unreturned books. If there is no staff at the desk, please use a sticky note (on the front desk) to write your name and put it on the inside cover of each of your books. Please put the books in the locked wooden box outside the library doors in the Math Lab hallway. You can also use this box to return textbooks or library materials when the library is closed.
• Remember, we have to know your name in order to take the books off your account. If we don't take them off your record, you will be charged for them.
• Your instructors may collect them on your behalf on the last day of your class. Be certain that your instructor makes a note that you returned the book; library staff have to remove books from individual accounts so that we know exactly who has returned what. If you want to be sure that you get credit for returning your book this way, please put a sticky note with your name on it on the inside front cover of the book before turning it over to your instructor.
• If you want to return a book to eCampus directly, please click here for instructions. Customer service for eCampus is 877-322-6787.

Do I get money back for returning books?

No, books are usually rentals, not purchases. The books are not yours to own and therefore you aren't selling them back, merely returning books you have rented. The College doesn't buy back books.