We might, but a definitive answer can be complicated because there are so many variables.
Few academic libraries purchase the most current edition of textbooks
that instructors require. Occasionally, the DePaul Libraries acquire a
select few titles considered standards in various fields of study or
because professors ordered them to be placed on reserve for in library
use only.
For any given copy of a textbook, there are probably many more
students—not just at DePaul but across the entire state of Illinois—who
understandably would like to borrow instead of buy. Textbooks are
frequently checked out, missing or lost because of this high demand. If
you are fortunate enough to borrow a textbook, there is no guarantee
that you will be allowed to keep it for a full quarter.
Purchasing textbooks is part of usual college expenses, along with
paying tuition, dorm/rental expenses, buying school supplies, a parking
pass and a meal plan. If you choose not to buy your textbooks from the
campus bookstore, consider:
* Comparative shopping from local booksellers, fellow students, and the many new and used online bookstores.
* Sharing textbooks with classmates.
* Asking your instructor if he or she might be willing to put an extra
copy of a textbook “on reserve” in the library. Doing so allows
equal—albeit limited—access to all students.
Note: Copyright laws do not permit the photocopying of entire
textbooks. If you intend to copy more than a single chapter for
personal use, you should purchase the book instead.
