By Colt Langley/managing editor
With the overwhelming success of the TCC Bookstores’ Rent-A-Text program, students saved more money renting texts than from buying them, bookstore officials said.
The program was put into place for the first time this semester and was a bigger hit than the district expected.
District manager for campus bookstores Colleen Baker said she was excited the program went over so well, but even though the college did not make money off the deal, it collectively saved students hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“It was a huge success,” she said. “They [campus bookstores] beat what I expected them to. They did better than I thought. There’s more books in the hands of students than we expected.”
Because it is the first time the bookstores have rented books, they lost money. Once titles have gone through multiple students in future semesters, the bookstores will eventually make a profit.
“It costs us more to bring the books in than for us to rent them,” Baker said. “We hope for multiple-term rentals.”
In a letter to campus presidents, Baker said, “This early success is only the beginning. Rent-A-Text is projected to save students across the country $130 million in the 2010-2011 academic year alone.”
Baker and Latoya Peoples, NE textbook manager, said they are working to get more titles for rent in the coming semesters.
“I’m working with faculty for the subjects not rent-eligible to see if we can save students money in those areas,” Peoples said.
Sue Looper, assistant manager for South’s bookstore, said her employers emphasize renting.
“We still have students coming in asking about Rent-A-Text, and we are working to get more titles in,” she said.
“If we have rentable texts, we do suggest them [students] to rent. It’s more feasible because of the expense, and I think it helps them more than some of the prices we’re asking for texts.”
