Gannon Knight News

     Students have the opportunity to take part in a new textbook rental program allowing them to simply “Rent, Use and Return.”
     It is designed to lower the cost of textbooks for students, giving them the opportunity to choose between purchasing and renting their books for the semester.
     The Gannon University Bookstore will make a list of books that can be placed on the rental list, allowing students to see what is available for a cheaper price, said Tony Marchewka, manager of the bookstore.
     He said those books will have shelf tags on them in the store to help students know which ones are available. Not only are they able to shop in the store, but they can order online through the bookstore website as well to move the process along.
     “Last spring, the average college student spent approximately $280 on textbooks for the term,” he said.
     “As textbook affordability continues to be an issue and leaves students scouring the Internet for lower prices, we are offering students an option for lower textbook prices within the local bookstore.”
     Marchewka said that as the prices of textbooks rise, the store has looked into ways to lower costs for students, and this was a prime option. He said renting cuts the students’ costs in half, where books are guaranteed to save 50 percent off the price of a new book on every rental, there are no shipping fees, waiting time or errors and students get the right book at the right price at the right time.
     “Students are assured of the correct book, plus returns are easy with our textbook rental program,” Marchewka said. “Renting textbooks through the Gannon Bookstore offers students advantages in addition to lower prices.”
     Matthew Neal-Mink, a junior medical technology major, said that he spends an average of around $400 a semester on books and the program would help with the payments.
     “It would help me a lot because it would be less of a burden financially,” he said. “Plus, when we return the books, we get hardly anything back for them, so it is a waste of a book that someone else could be using or reading.”
     Samantha Clark, a sophomore respiratory therapy major, said that she always buys her books online because the prices at the bookstore are too expensive. She said she buys her books online at the moment to find the lowest prices.
     “Loans cause a problem already,” she said. “The program would help me save money.”
     Marchewka said that it will be a bit more of an effort from the bookstore staff to create the list and manage it, but this would drive more students into the bookstore to purchase or rent their books.
     “The program will be somewhat easy to administer,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it because it can only be a good thing for the students in lowering the cost for them.”