Textbooks on reserve so students can save

Textbook costs are one of the biggest grievances among students — a necessary but burdensome expense.

The UIC Office of Financial Aid estimates that the average undergraduate in Liberal Arts and Sciences spends about $1,400 per year on books and supplies.

But the Daley Library is aiming to reduce some of that burden by offering selected textbooks for 100- and 200-level courses on reserve.

The books checked out most frequently are for English, science and economics courses. The Daley Library works with campus departments to identify the books that are most needed, said Pia Hunter, head of reserve and media services.

The program has grown since it began at the beginning of the 2012-13 academic year, Hunter said. The number of textbooks checked out from the Daley Library has risen from 702 in the fall of 2012 to more than 2,800 at the beginning of the current academic year.

“I am so excited to see the students actively participating in the program. This initiative has gained a strong start on campus and we hope to see it grow to more departments and upper division courses in the future,” Hunter said.

For more information on textbooks on reserve at the Daley Library, ask at the Reserve and Media Services desk, contact Hunter at huntress@uic.edu or search the Course Reserves in the online library catalog.