The most convenient way to get your books is at your college's campus bookstore. The bookstore should have an adequate supply of every book assigned by your professor, and, if they don't, they will order a copy for you. Purchasing your books on campus ensures you will have them in time to complete assigned reading and homework. Unfortunately, this convenient option is usually the most expensive. College bookstores usually charge full retail price for textbooks, which may run as high as $300. Before you pay top dollar for your books, as a store clerk if they have used options for the books you need.
Browse the Internet for used and discounted copies of your assigned books. Websites like Amazon.com, eBay.com and Half.com list used books as much as 75 percent or 80 percent off cover price. If you want to order your books online, do so as soon as you receive the syllabus to make sure they arrive on time. Before you order the book, double-check the ISBN number of the used copy to make sure it is the same as your assigned textbook. You will also want to ask the seller about the condition of the book. Be aware that many used books will be written in and underlined and may be in less-than-excellent condition.
If you know you won't want to keep your textbooks once the semester is over, consider renting your textbooks online. Internet textbook renting services like TextbookStop.com and Chegg.com let you rent the books you need for a small fee. You can usually rent books by the semester, month or academic year. Keep in mind that you can't write, highlight passages or make ear marks in rented textbooks. Book rental services also charge fees for failing to return books on time or returning books with even minor damages.
Many college libraries have a limited supply of frequently used textbooks. While this is a great way to get your books for free, you will also probably have to renew your lease on each book several times throughout the semester. Libraries also have limited copies of expensive textbooks, so you will need to act quickly to get a hold of the book. Professors also often put a copy of a book on reserve for students to use in the library. You can use the library's copy machine to make copies of the assigned passages if you need to take the reading home with you.
Many college campuses have "book swaps" at the beginning of each semester for students to exchange textbooks. Swaps allow you to get rid of your old textbooks and get a hold of new ones absolutely free. You can also ask friends and acquaintances who took your class in a previous semester if they still have the book you need. If possible, offer one of your older books in exchange for the one you need, or ask to borrow it from them for the semester. Borrowing and exchanging books is easiest for textbooks assigned in required classes because many students are likely to have the textbook.