Are you tight on funds and looking for ways to save on college books? You just may find that renting textbooks is the best decisionthat you can make.

All too many college students find themselves spending hundreds of dollars on books each quarter/semester and either selling back their books for a faction of the original cost or keeping them for years as they collect dust.

The following are 5 Quick Reasons Why Renting Textbooks Makes Sense:

1. You pay a fraction of the price for the term. You’ll be amazed at how much you can save. If you have no desire to keep the book after your final examination, there is really no reason to pay top dollar.
2. Shipping is Free. When you rent from ValoreBooks.com, shipping on college textbooks is always free both to your dorm/home and back to the warehouse. The process is 100% hassle free.
3. You choose how long the rental will last. You can rent a text book for as long as you’d like. The price goes up and down based on the duration of the rental. Finally, you can be in control of how much you pay for textbooks!
4. Books are in great condition. All rentals are fully examined before they’re shipped to you, so you never have to worry about getting a trashed book.
5. You’ll help to save trees. Renting is great for the environment. You and your friends can make a difference, so spread the word!

Have you ever rented a college textbook? We’d love to hear how the process went for you! Feel free to share your comments or ask questions on our Facebook wall.

Check us out in the New York Times! Reporter Tara Siegel Bernard published the 2nd edition of a piece centered around finding cheap textbooks that was first seen last fall. ValoreBooks.com is mentioned because of our Guarantee Program, where we vow to match any rental prices found elsewhere within seven days of a transaction.  We also offer free shipping – both ways on textbook rentals. You can view the full article, here.

Thursday, October 21st has been coined as the Affordable Textbooks Day Of Action. Students from over 40 campuses will speak out against expensive textbooks by hosting presentations, sending emails and talking with professors directly. This is part of the Student PIRGs, Make Textbooks Affordable campaign. The campaign has been in effect since 2003, and focuses on the following areas:

Passing Laws: As of July 1st, 2010 schools need to provide a list to students of the books required for their courses before classes begin. This allows students to have more time to explore other channels such as buying or renting textbooks online. Additionally, publishers will need to offer bundled items separately, allowing students to have more control over which items they choose to purchase for class.

Promoting Open Textbooks: Increasing the popularity of open textbooks is another primary initiative of the campaign. Instead of costing $150-$200 per textbook, open source textbooks allow students to download and read content for free.

Exposing the Problem: Getting the media to address the cost of expensive textbooks to raise awareness among the general American public is also critical. In fact, the campaign was mentioned in today’s New York Times article.

Promoting Used Books: Encouraging students to shop online for used textbooks, or by swapping with friends and classmates is great way for students to save money and to combat publishers who undermine the used book industry by releasing similar, but new editions of textbooks every couple years.

Establishing Rental Programs: Encouraging cost-saving textbook rental programs to become more prevalent on college campuses and online. On average, students who rent textbooks spend between $130-$240 per year opposed to $900 spent by students who buy; a  savings of about $700.

Check us out on edReformer, where reporter Douglas Crets uses “The Case of The Giant Beaver and a Textbook” to talk about the shift in the textbook industry. Watch as our mascot, Victor the Beaver makes his comeback debut as he runs through the streets of Manhattan in a hurry to deliver a student the textbook she so desperately needs for her class. You can find the full article, here.

The Make It Work Blog recognizes that college textbooks can be ridiculously expensive. As you go on your search this semester for the cheapest possible college textbooks, remember to check out the options available to you besides the college bookstore. You can find textbooks for a small percentage of the list price which will save you a ton of money in the long run. ValoreBooks made the list for our wide selection and low prices. See the full article here!