Q. How do I know which books I'll need to buy for my classes?
A. The College Store has a textbook list available at the Information Counter in the Textbook Department, or you may simply visit the College Store's Online Textbook Department for textbook listings.
Q. How is the textbook list organized?
A. The textbook list is organized alphabetically by course department, followed by course number and section letter (i.e. MATH 060 A). The textbook list also lets you know if the instructor has listed a textbook as Required (R) or Optional (O).
Q. Who chooses the textbooks for classes?
A. The instructor of each class selects the textbooks that will be used for the quarter.
Q. What is the difference between a Required textbook and an Optional textbook?
A. When a textbook has been labeled as "Required," this means that the instructor of the course has required that students enrolled in the course have this book. When a textbook has been labeled as "Optional," this means that the instructor does not plan to use this book in class, but has listed it as an optional learning supplement for the course.
Q. How do I locate my books on the sales floor?
A. The textbook department is organized in alphabetical order by department name, and then numerically by course number. However, if you arrive at the store and find you need help, any College Store employee will be happy to orient you to the layout of the Textbook Department. When coming to the College Store to purchase your textbooks, please bring in a copy of your class registration printout for the quarter in order to be assured that you are purchasing the correct books for your class.
Q. Why are textbooks so expensive?
A. Unlike the mass-produced books that you might find at any general bookstore, textbooks are written by an expert or team of experts and the content of the books takes a great deal of time to develop. In the end, a textbook that has an audience of only 20,000 forces publishers to set the price of each book to be much higher in order to cover the cost of publishing. And as far as the College Store's pricing goes, our mark-up on textbooks is minimal so that we just cover the costs of delivering the textbooks to our students.
Q. Do I save money buying a used textbook?
A. Yes, used textbooks do cost less than new (approx 25% less). Be sure to check prices and availability of used books by coming into the College Store, as quantities may be limited and the listing of a used book online does not guarantee availability.
Q. What is the difference between a new textbook and a used textbook?
A. A new textbook is brand new from the publisher, whereas a used textbook has been previously owned/used by at least one other student, may have been highlighted, written in or marked in and may have cosmetic damage to the cover, pages and spine.
Q. Are all textbooks available as used?
A. The College Store attempts to offer used textbooks whenever possible. When a used textbook is not offered as an option, it is usually for one of three reasons:
- The book is a new edition or was not used at Edmonds Community College or CWU Lynnwood Center during the previous quarter.
- The book was originally published for one-time-use only due to either the nature or the book or the binding of the book.
- The book has been specially packaged with additional materials (i.e. computer media, cassettes, workbook, etc.).
Q. When and where can I find used textbooks?
A. The majority of used textbooks for the upcoming quarter become available both in the College Store and through the College Store's Online Textbook Department during finals week at the end of any given quarter. As the College Store receives our supply of used books through the In-store Buyback process, the used books are cleaned up, priced, labeled with yellow USED stickers on the spine and stocked on our shelves alongside new textbooks. (Please remember to shop early as used textbook quantities in the College Store and through the College Store's Online Textbook Department may be limited).
Q. How do I get a copy of the textbook that I need if there are no more on the shelf?
A. Check with one of the College Store employees at the Textbook Information Counter. They may be able to either locate a copy for you or let you know when a new shipment of the textbook that you need is expected. If there are no more copies of the textbook in the store, we may be able to order a copy of the textbook specifically for you; this is called a special order. If you want to look into placing a special order, an employee at the textbook information counter can help you.
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