Ask a Librarian

Can I rent or buy a textbook at the library?

If you have not purchased/rented the textbook from your campus bookstore, you can check with your campus library to see if they have a current textbook on reserve (at the circulation desk) for a two-hour, in-house use only, Some campus libraries may have a new edition for the 3-week checkout period (With two renewals if the book does not have a hold placed by another student.) but more often than not, it will be an older edition. Check with your instructor to see if the older edition will work for your class before depending on that older edition. Please note that some textbooks may be eBooks with only a bookstore purchase option available.