Textbook Rental Frequently Asked Questions
Click on a question below to
see the answer, or just scroll down the screen to see all of
the information.
Who is
eligible to rent textbooks?
Any St. Olaf College student, 18 years or older, can rent a textbook while supplies
last.
Who owns
the rental textbooks?
Rental
textbooks are the property of the St. Olaf Bookstore at St. Olaf College.
Can I
rent all of my textbooks?
Not at this
time. We are working with publishers and wholesalers to identify as many rental
titles as possible. Generally speaking, a book needs to be a popular title and
early in its life cycle to qualify for a rental program. A popular title is
defined by the number of colleges and universities using the title. Early life
cycle is defined as a recently released edition. Not all textbooks used on
campus fall into these two categories.
Can I
rent a textbook at any time?
Yes. You
can rent a textbook at any time in the semester while supplies last.
How long
can I keep the rented textbook?
You can keep the rented textbook until 5:00 p.m. on the
last final exam day of the semester in which it was rented.
Is the
rental option a better deal?
- It depends. You need to look
carefully at your other options and consider the true end cost and what
you want from the book. Do you want the cheapest alternative? Do you want
to keep the book for reference? Will you need the book for an upcoming
class?
- Rental fees are generally 50%
cheaper than purchasing the new book equivalent but the book has to be
returned in salable condition with minimal highlighting and writing. You
cannot sell the rented textbook at buyback or keep it for your library.
- The best economic value in
textbooks many times is to buy a used textbook and sell it back at the
bookstore’s buyback for 50% of the new price. The 50% can only be paid if
the faculty member has notified the bookstore, prior to buyback, that the
textbook will be used in an upcoming semester.
How do I
rent a textbook?
You can
“order” your rental textbook on line for a specific time period at
www.stolafbookstore.com by clicking on Textbooks, or you can see someone in
the Textbook Department at the St. Olaf Bookstore. You will need to complete
and sign a Textbook Rental Agreement which outlines the Terms and Conditions of
the rental Agreement. The Agreement stipulates that the St. Olaf Bookstore will
have a valid credit card or debit card on file for Payment Security for applied
fees. See “Payment Security” below.
Can I
highlight and write in the rented textbook?
Yes.
Minimal and normal highlighting and writing is acceptable. The St. Olaf
Bookstore determines salable condition and all such decisions are final.
Do I
HAVE to rent my textbooks?
No. Renting
a textbook is an alternative to purchasing a textbook.
Can I
choose to purchase my rented textbook?
Yes. You
may choose to purchase your rented textbook at any time by paying the full
price of the book – the amount remaining after subtracting the rental fee from
the purchase price.
What
happens if I drop the class for which I rented the textbook?
Returns of
rented textbooks for full refund are accepted until mid-term break if the class
has been dropped. You will need to present the St. Olaf Bookstore with your
receipt, the rented textbook, and a drop/add slip. Your rental fee will be
credited to the original payment tender.
Can I
return my rented textbook and have my rental fee refunded?
Only in the
following situations:
- Proof that the course was
cancelled.
- You dropped the class and
present a drop/add slip by mid-term break.
When do
I need to return my rented textbook to the St. Olaf Bookstore?
You need to
return your rented textbook to the St. Olaf Bookstore by 5:00 p.m. on the last
day of finals for the term.
What
happens if my rented textbook is lost, stolen, or damaged?
You are
responsible for the rented textbook until such time as you return it to the
St. Olaf Bookstore. Additional fees apply if the rented textbook is lost,
stolen, damaged, or returned late.
What
happens if I do not return my rented textbook?
The rented
textbook will be considered “lost” and you will be charged the remaining cost
of the book.
Why are additional fees applied if I lose or damage my
rented textbook?
The rented
textbook is the property of the St. Olaf Bookstore. The additional fees cover
the additional expenses of finding another copy of the textbook to replace the
one that was lost, stolen, or damaged.
Why can
I not return the rented textbook after a specific date?
Our
textbook rental program is unique to each term. Each term has a specific end
date. Once the end date of a term is reached, all non-returned rented textbooks
are considered “lost” and additional fees are applied.
Who do I
see with other questions?
Please
see the Textbook Manager at the St. Olaf Bookstore with additional questions.