Affordable Learning $olutions

• Let your professors know if you can’t access course materials – they want you to succeed!
  • Your professor may be able to grant temporary access through the library
  • You can always ask your professors to put a textbook on reserve! Ask a librarian for help. 
• If you find a better price on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or a local campus competitor for the exact same title/format, the Campus Store will match it within 7 days of your original purchase date. 
  •  Learn more about the Campus Store's Price Match Program
• If you need any help with textbook accessibility, contact DRES (Disability Resources and Educational Services).
• Location: Bayramian Hall 110
• Telephone: (818) 677-2684
• Email: dres@csun.edu
• Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
• Get the syllabi for your classes ASAP to allow time to search for affordable textbook options, such as used and low-cost textbooks online.
• Websites to compare new/used/rental textbook prices:
  • Slugbooks.com
  • BookFinder.com
  • Abebooks.com
  • Textbooks.com
• Websites that offer digital and new/used/rental textbook options:
  • Chegg.com
  • Amazon.com
  • Vitalsource.com
  • CengageLearning.com
  • RedShelf.com
• Websites that have new/used/rental textbook options:
  • Bookbyte.com
  • CampusBookRentals.com
  • ValorBooks.com 

Did you know that Class Search uses icons to indicate which classes have zero-cost or low-cost course materials? This can help you select affordable courses and budget for textbook costs as you register for classes. You can even use search filters to only see zero-cost and low-cost courses. Keep an eye out for these icons in Class Search:

Zero Cost
Course Materials

Low Cost
Course Materials
($50 or Less)

• Some instructors will put textbooks on reserve at the University Library to make course materials accessible to all students. You can search course reserves for your textbooks by instructor, course number, or book title here.
• Many physical textbooks on reserve can only be checked out for two hours due to high demand. If you're relying on course reserves to do your reading, you may want to scan the chapters you need for free at the Library so that you can read them later. 
• Search for textbooks & ebooks in the library catalog using OneSearch by applying the search filter "Available Online at CSUN"

If CSUN doesn't have your textbook, you may be able to borrow it for 30-60 days from another CSU campus. Just make sure to set the dropdown in OneSearch to "All CSU Libraries"

Check out these video tutorials if you're unsure about how to do any of these things!

Fill out this form or ask a librarian so that we can

1) strategize with you to find affordable course materials options and/or

2) share with your professor ways to lower the cost of course materials.

http://bit.ly/find-textbooks

CSUN students, faculty, staff, and visitors can scan documents and book pages with the Library’s user-friendly, self-serve ScannX scanners. These scanning stations do not require a login and allow CSUN students to send scanned items to: USB, E-Mail, Box, and Phone/Tablet. 

Main Floor - Core
Adjacent to the Library Technology Services Desk: Flatbed Book Scanner 7145
Adjacent to Computer Station LIB-LCV-011: Flatbed Book Scanner 7145
Adjacent to the Reference Desk:

• Flatbed Book Scanner 7145 with A3 Automatic Document Feeder
• Over Head ScanSnap SV600 Scanner

Main Floor - West Wing 
Adjacent to the Creative Maker Studio

• Flatbed Book Scanner 7145 with A3 Automatic Document Feeder
• Over Head ScanSnap SV600 Scanner

Need Help?
Problems should be reported to the Library Technology Services desk, or by calling 818-677-6304.