University of Kentucky Lets Students Rent Books With Option to Buy

Offering students the option to rent textbooks has become increasingly widespread. Colleges across the country have adopted new practices that allow their students to take advantage of rental and rent-to-buy programs.

The University of Kentucky is one such school that has recognized the need for more affordable ways for students to obtain textbooks. The UK Bookstore’s parent company, Follett Higher Education Group, offers students the option to rent instead of buy. This option can save students more than 50% of what they would pay to purchase a text.

With the rent-to-buy program, each student can treat the text like it is his own. Students are free to highlight and take notes in rented books. At the end of the semester, students can return the book or have the option to buy it. The national pilot program put in place by the Follett Higher Education Group has received positive feedback, with more than 90% of students surveyed as being satisfied. The Group found that the rental program saved students close to $2 million on course texts in one semester at seven different schools.

Students have the option of renting or buying texts in the campus store or online at the book store’s website. There are various different payment options to accommodate students’ needs. The rent-to-buy program makes textbooks more easily accessible to all students, and eases the financial burden placed on students who may not have the means to afford a full courseload worth of books each semester.

Sally Wiatrowski, store director at UK’s Bookstore, said that “the results and feedback from UK students who were able to select rental as an option were very positive. In response, the Rent-A-Text at the UK Bookstore is now offering a much wider expanse of titles.” Student feedback on the ease and financially less burdensome option of renting texts is decidedly positive.

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Harper Teen Allows Readers to “Browse Inside”

Harper Teen is a subsection of Harper Collins publishing company geared towards teenaged readers. On the HarperTeen website, teens can “Browse Inside” books before they decide to purchase them.

The “Browse Inside” section of the website has two subsections: one titled “full access,” and one titled “sneak peak.” Books in the full access section can be viewed by readers in full. The sneak peak section allows readers to view certain chapters or sections of the book before making a purchase.

The idea of ‘try it before you buy it’ as it is applied to the Harper Teen website enables teens to get a feel for the writing style and content of a book before deciding to buy it.

Click here to check out the “Browse Inside” section of Harper Teen.