Second hand books?
We all know how bored I am, with nothing to do but mess about on the computer this summer. So I did a geeky thing - I contacted a Fresher representative on Facebook and asked for a reading list for English Language in the first year. Not that I'll be shouting it from the rooftops. Facebook is actually a really good way to learn about Freshers' Week at your university, as well as talking to someone from the university if you have any questions or problems, and making friends before you get there.
So I found my way onto Amazon to have a look for some second-hand books, and almost fell off my chair. Even second-hand, the books are so expensive, usually around £15 or £20 each. Bear in mind, there are probably over twenty books for each subject. I really had no idea the books would cost so much, and I've spent most of my life in the university where my mum worked.
My mum and I came up with a simple, yet cunning, plan. The best thing to do is to find out the few core books you will need - these are the ones the library is guarenteed to have about three copies of for your entire class - and buy them. Then you can borrow the others from the library because they will be less popular.
Now all we have to do is read them.
- The size of a university library varies from place to place - Oxford's main library, the Bodleian, has over 11million, where the Courtauld Institute of Art has only around 140,000. No two universities have the same resources, so check before you go. You might not be able to rely on the library to get the books you need, especially when everyone else needs them at the same time.
- If you're on the lookout for budget book buys, check out www.sellstudentbooks.com - there's over 900,000 books, searchable by name, author or subject. If you still can't find what you're looking for, they'll even send you text alerts when that vital book turns up. And when you're done with it, flog it on to someone else. Sweet.
Last updated on: 04 July 2008