Q: Does the Library have textbooks?
A: Sometimes
The Library does not buy every textbook being used at CSUF. The Library’s mission is to support CSUF’s curriculum with supplemental resources beyond textbooks, not be a warehouse for textbooks. However, sometimes you can find your textbook-- either as a print book or e-book. To check, search the library's catalog, OneSearch. You can type in the title, author, or ISBN #. But review the displayed results carefully! Textbooks often have varying titles or ISBN #s Also, check the edition! Your current textbook may be the 6th edition (2019), but the library's copy may only be the 2nd edition (2004). That's a 15-year difference, and risky to study from.
Print copy: If the Pollak Library does not have your textbook, other libraries might. When searching the library's OneSearch catalog (advanced search: set to "All CSU"), you can see if your textbook is available at another CSU campus library. If it is, you can borrow it directly from OneSearch, and it will be shipped here (for free) for you to pickup at the library's Circulation Desk. However, keep in mind it is not always likely your request will be successful. Other CSU libraries frequently put "local campus use only" restrictions on new textbooks. Similarly, in the WorldCat catalog, you might see your textbook available at a non-CSU library (UC campus, private university, public library). You can try requesting it as an Interlibrary Loan request, but again, it is not always likely that it will be loaned, for the same reason ("local campus use only" restrictions for new textbooks).
E-copy: There are websites that have collections of free e-books. If your textbook is recently published and under copyright, it is not as likely to be there, but it doesn't hurt to search. Here is a list of some of these free e-book sites. You can also try finding an e-copy of your textbook at your local public library's website. But keep in mind public libraries typically feature general interest books, not academic textbooks.
CSUF Titan Shop's bookstore has a “Lowest Price Guarantee”: shop online sites for the lowest price…
then show that price to the bookstore and they’ll match it, PLUS give you 25% of the difference. Details are here: http://www.titanshops.com/lowest-price-guarantee
The CSUF Titan bookstore offers textbook rentals on many textbooks. Renting is significantly cheaper than buying, especially if you don’t plan to keep the textbook for future reference. Details are here http://www.titanshops.com/adoption-search If the CSUF Titan bookstore doesn’t have your textbook for rent, there are many textbook rental vendors online:
The CSUF Titan bookstore offers many textbooks as e-books. E-books are cheaper than printed textbooks. You can see if the bookstore sells your textbook as an e-book here: http://www.titanshops.com/adoption-search If they don’t have your book as an e-book, the vendors below sell e-book textbooks. Warning: check the terms of e-books carefully before purchasing; many cannot be returned/refunded.
www.amazon.com/textbooks
https://play.google.com/store/books/collection/promotion_1000568_txb_product?hl=en 
www.vitalsource.com
www.textbooks.com/etextbooks.php
www.ecampus.com/etextbooks.asp
There are a growing number of online sites to buy textbooks. The following sites below are known to be legitimate search sites. When buying online, keep in mind hidden costs. You may find a low price, but shipping & processing costs might add between $5-$20 more. Also, check their return policy; will they pre-pay the return-postage if they send you the wrong edition? If not, you’re stuck with paying. This is another reason to consider the Titan Shop's Lowest Price Guarantee.
www.amazon.com/textbooks - draws from its own inventory, plus 1000’s of affiliates. Now rents books too.
www.barnesandnoble.com/textbooks - likewise; its own inventory & affiliates. Now rents books too.
www.ecampus.com - one of the largest online textbook sites; rent/buy/sell textbooks
www.textbooks.com - also large; buy/sell/rent textbooks. Free shipping on orders over $25
www.cheapesttextbooks.com - same; serves as a broker; brings you 1000’s of sellers at once
www.directtextbook.com/ - same; serves as a broker; brings you 1000’s of sellers at once
www.bigwords.com - same; serves as a broker; brings you 1000’s of sellers at once
www.slugbooks.com - same; serves as a broker; brings you 1000’s of sellers at once
www.abebooks.com/books/Textbooks/ - same; one of the largest online bookstores
www.collegebooksdirect.com - claims to only sell books in-stock (no delays/false promises)
www.cheap-textbooks.com/ - claims to offer real-time price comparisons
www.campusbooks.com/ - another buy/sell/rent site
http://fullerton.uloop.com/forsale/index.php/textbook - classifieds (at your own risk)
All non-CSUF sites listed in this guide are for informational purpose only. CSUF & the Pollak Library do not endorse or affiliate with any of these sites.
© CSUF August 2020 Compiled by Librarians Rob Sage & John Hickok
