VCU news

By Rebecca Jones
VCU Business Services

Virginia Commonwealth University and Barnes & Noble College Booksellers will launch a textbook rental program in the fall semester for students on the Monroe Park Campus.

The program will allow students to rent their textbooks for less than 50 percent of the cost of purchasing a new, printed textbook. Students will be able to rent their books either in the store or online at www.vcubooks.com.

“The textbook retail program will give VCU students an opportunity to save a considerable amount of money on book purchases,” said VCU Business Services Director Diane Reynolds. “We estimate the total savings to students will be approximately $500,000 per year.”

Barnes & Noble piloted its rental program earlier this year at 25 campus bookstores across the country, including George Mason University. More than 90 percent of students surveyed said they would rent from their campus bookstore again.

“We are committed to providing students with the widest range of content options and price points available,” said Hil Estock, vice president of store/campus relations at Barnes & Noble College Booksellers. “Whether students are interested in new books, used, digital, unbundled, or now rentals, they know they can find what they want at Barnes & Noble @ VCU.”

Other program features include:

Students can pay the rental fees using any form of tender currently accepted by the bookstore, although for security purposes, a valid credit card also must be provided regardless of the tender used for the rental fee.

Students can highlight or mark the rented books just as they would if they purchased a book and planned to sell it back to the bookstore.

Students can convert their rental to a purchase during the first two weeks of class.

The rental period lasts for the duration of the term/semester. Books are due back at the bookstore no later than 10 days after the last day of finals. Students can return the books in person or by mail.

Courtesy e-mails will go out as the end of the term/semester approaches reminding students to return their books. Books not returned (or returned in unusable condition) will be subject to replacement and processing fees.