Book smarts
Heading to the bookstore? Check out the library first.
University Libraries and Undergraduate Student Government have teamed up to give students in GEC classes access to free textbooks.
Students can use the books to study inside the Science and Engineering Library. That library was chosen, in part, because it's open around the clock.
"When you're studying for final exams, it could be any hour of the night," said Dave Knapp, one of the two USG members behind bringing the free books to campus.
Knapp said he hears "a lot" of complaints about how much books costs. He's not alone.
On average, textbooks cost $102.44, according to Campusbooks.com. A California study found the average college student pays $898 per year on books, and the federal General Accounting Office has reported that college textbook prices have risen 6 percent each year since 1987--twice the rate of inflation.
At Ohio State, Knapp was frustrated after spending about $400 on three books last fall.
He and fellow USG members Matt Dodovich and Chris Dyer approached University Libraries with an idea: Put student books on open reserve.
"They were gung-ho," Knapp said, of the libraries' staff. "They were ready to do it."
This quarter, books used in 48 GEC classes are available.
"If it takes off," Knapp said, "then we'll look at going beyond GEC courses."
Related links:
Undergraduate Student Government.
Office of Student Financial Aid.
(text/images: University Marketing Communications)
Books are available for:
- Anthropology 200
- Astronomy 161
- Biology 101, 102, 113, 114
- Chemistry 101, 121- 123
- Communications 101
- Economics 200, 201
- French 101-104
- Geography 200
- German 101-104
- History 111, 151, 152
- Italian 101-104
- Math 151- 153
- Physics 111-113, 131-133
- Political Science 100, 101
- Psychology 100
- Sociology 101
- Spanish 101-104
- Statistics 135, 145
