Campus Bookstore: A reliable source
By Kenzie Nguyen
Executive Editor
According to my friend Evan, the campus bookstore is a reliable source for those with anxiety. If you are the type that likes to plan ahead for their semester and go into Syllabus Day with all of the correct books for your classes, scrounging through questionable websites and taking a chance at the library system is not for you. That’s anxiety-inducing! Which is why the campus bookstore is very reliable. Yes, it’s pricier than alternative options, but at least you are guaranteed the correct book — especially if you are a STEM major.
I don’t personally use the campus bookstore to get my textbooks, but I support those who do because you just gotta do what you gotta do.
Library: Keep the circulation moving
By Ashlyn Wuench
Executive Editor
My first semester at St. Olaf, I wanted to make sure I had every correct book for the first day of class. My total crossed over the $100 line, and I figured this was just the way college was. I was about a week into German when I realized I was going to be taking French instead, for personal reasons — German was so hard. When I transferred classes, I tried to return my book. However, it was just past the return date at the Bookstore. I contacted the publisher to try to return my code, and it was, again, too late.
The next semester, I attempted to take an economics class. I got the digital textbook from the bookstore, but then realized that I needed to try again with a different professor very quickly. I transferred to an English class, and my code for the economics course, yet again, was cash wasted.
This may just mean that I need to make up my mind and stop transferring courses. That can be true. It can also be true that there are better ways to access resources than through the single source of the Bookstore. By the time you begin to get a feel of your class, the short span of time during which the Bookstore allows you to return books has closed. The Bookstore often upcharges books and materials that can be found in other locations, such as through secondhand bookstores, Amazon, or through other students who may be selling or giving away their former books.
Although there are many downsides to a highly digitized education system, there is a positive of accessing reading materials far more easily. Several common textbooks can be found through safe PDFs online. The first time I can remember debating between getting the textbook and looking at an online edition was my junior year, January term. I was offering to split the costs of an expensive book with a classmate and share the material. Someone had found the textbook through a link on Facebook. My mind? Blown. I wasn’t aware of my ability to save $80. It was incredibly helpful to find a more cost-friendly way to access material. My previous semester was survived through a few friends who were able to make a couple of Google searches for me. More often, I have a professor who is also finding legal or not-so-legal PDFs to post to our Moodle course.
Another resource that I’ve found incredibly cost-effective is utilizing the public and school libraries. Accessing the St. Olaf catalog gives a great opportunity to access digital pieces and print options from both St. Olaf and Carleton. The Northfield Public Library offers additional resources, including a free account through Libby, which offers further free rental of materials.
Regardless of how you find your textbooks and resources for classes, I hope it is the best option for you. It is very freeing to know that there are other ways to access what you need to further your education outside of the confines of the Bookstore’s upcharge
