What's the process to get e-textbooks for college?

Hey guys, I was wondering what the most common ways are to get e-textbooks for college. Are they available through the college themselves or do we need to source them elsewhere? Any advice would be much appreciated.

Hello! Yes, you've got a few options when it comes to sourcing e-textbooks for college.

Firstly, your college or university bookstore may offer digital versions of textbooks. When you're given your required reading list, you'll usually be able to search their online store to see if there are e-textbooks available. You'll typically have the option to 'rent' the digital copy for a semester or purchase it outright, with rental being cheaper.

Secondly, commercial platforms like Amazon and Google Play Books also sell or rent e-textbooks. They often have a better pricing, so it's always a good idea to cross-check before purchasing. You'll usually receive a code to download the e-book onto your device, and you can access it as long as you have internet connection.

There's also a platform called Chegg that allows you to rent or purchase e-textbooks at a discounted price. Once you have your syllabus, you can compare options across multiple sellers to get the best deal.

Just a note: you might want to check if your professors are okay with you using e-textbooks before you buy. Some might insist on you having a physical copy for open-book exams or to bring to class.

Lastly, your college library may also offer e-books. These won't usually be textbooks, but they could be supplemental readings. As for reference books, many libraries subscribe to databases like JSTOR or ebrary where you can access an array of academic books and articles.

Hope this helps! Comparing prices and available options may take a bit of work, but it can certainly pay off when you're able to save money on textbooks. Good luck!