Pioneer Bookstore introduces textbook rentals
Sign that is part of the Pioneer Bookstore's campaign around the Hayward campus.
- August 24, 2010
Pioneer Bookstore is now offering textbook rental services. The Rent-A-Text program is expected to save students 50 percent or more off the cover price of textbooks, said Robert Gibson, director of Cal State East Bay’s Pioneer Bookstore.
“Rent-A-Text makes course materials more affordable,” Gibson said.
In addition, CSUEB’s textbook rental program allows students to rent and return books in-store or online; make notes in the margins or highlight text passages; and choose from payment options including through financial aid and campus cards.
Rent-A-Text is made available through Cal State East Bay’s partnership with Follett Higher Education Group, the largest college bookstore company in the nation and the largest textbook rental provider in North America. The program is based on the company’s pilot program that saved students nearly $6 million on course materials in two terms at 27 schools, according to Follett. More than 90 percent of students who rented textbooks expressed satisfaction with the pilot program, which is projected to save Follett customers approximately $130 million in 2010-2011, the company reported.
“Our partnership with Follett has been a tremendous success for our campus”, said Chris Brown, associate vice president of Enterprise Operations for Cal State East Bay. “Our ultimate goal is to provide excellent service while keeping student costs as low as possible.”
The Pioneer Bookstore has two locations. Fall hours for the Hayward campus store are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; to 4pm Friday; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The Concord campus store will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday during fall quarter.
For additional information about Cal State East Bay’s textbook rental program, visit . Details about Follett’s Rent-A-Text program are online at .