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Textbook Guide

A guide to finding low-cost textbooks and textbook alternatives

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Borrow Your Textbook

Browse the Library Textbook Collection.

The library purchases at least 1 copy of most required course textbooks. Textbooks are available on a first-come, first-served basis for a 2-hour loan from the Library Services Desk located on the main floor of the John L. Haar Library. 

Rent Your Textbook

The following sites offer rental options for many popular textbooks:

Search Online

Search online for a free option. The following websites provide entire books online at no cost:

Request a Chapter

Students can use the Library's Scan on Demand service to request one chapter from a textbook in the Library's Textbook Collection.

Larger amounts cannot be scanned due to copyright restrictions and repeat requests for the same title are monitored and cannot be fulfilled.

Buy Your Textbook from the Bookstore

Required course textbooks are available for purchase from the MacEwan Bookstore. To find your textbook information, either:

  • Enter your Student ID# in the MacEwan Bookstore textbook list generator, or...
  • Locate the textbook title in the course outline for the course you are registered in.

Buy Used Copies or Older Editions

Used copies of textbooks can often be bought online on sites such as Amazon, Kijiji, or Facebook Marketplace. You may also want to try:

 

Before You Buy Used:

  • Ensure the book you are buying is the correct edition. If unsure, ask your instructor.
  • Check to see if the book includes an access code for online content. If your instructor says the code is needed, and your code had been used or is expired, you'll be stuck buying a new code, which can be more costly than buying a new textbook. 

Before Buying an Older Edition: 

  • Check with your instructor. The content can change between editions and you might be missing out on important information!

 

Finished with your textbook? Post it on the MacEwan Used Book Exchange, or check out the MacEwan Bookstore Buyback program to see if the Bookstore wants to give you money for your old books!

This work is subject to a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International license. For exceptions, see the Library Copyright Statement.