Looking for a Required Textbook?

E-books: electronic editions of required textbooks
The Library already provides access to thousands of e-books. Each semester, we compare course textbook information with our subscribed collections and create a list of titles that are already available to CSU students at no additional cost.
View this semester’s available e-books and course readings.

Electronic course reserves
Your instructor may also assign online library articles, book chapters, streaming media, or e-books instead of a traditional textbook, or alongside one. These required materials may be available through course reserves.

Check your syllabus, stop at the Library Help Desk, or use the course readings link above to see what is available for your class.

The print Textbook Center
The Textbook Center is located on the first floor of the Library at the Library Help Desk. Your instructor may have placed a print copy of your textbook or other class materials on reserve there, and in some cases faculty members lend personal copies so students can share access.

Any CSU student with a valid Viking Card may borrow these textbooks for a 2-hour loan at no cost.
Check now to see whether your course is listed.

Need more than two hours? The Library has free self-serve scanners that let you scan pages to email, a USB drive, or Google Drive. You can then print your scanned material from campus computers using your PaperCut print balance.

Please note: Because print textbooks are shared by many students in the same course, overdue fines are $1.00 per hour. Returning them on time helps make sure your classmates can use them too.

Discovery @ CSU (free)
If the Michael Schwartz Library does not own your textbook, another Ohio academic library may. Use Discovery to search beyond CSU and request available items for pickup here at no cost.

Viking Outfitters (reduced cost)
The campus bookstore often offers used, rental, or digital textbook options that can lower your cost. You can order online, compare options, and pick up in the Student Center.

Inclusive Access (deferred billing)
In participating courses, required materials may be delivered automatically through Inclusive Access. Charges are applied to your student account and can often be paid with financial aid. Course-specific details are usually sent to your CSU email.

Open textbooks
Some CSU faculty use openly licensed textbooks that are free online and may also be available in print. These open textbooks can dramatically reduce student costs while still providing high-quality learning materials. The Library actively supports these efforts through affordable learning initiatives and textbook affordability grants.

Ask your professor whether your course uses an open textbook. If they do, you may have immediate free access online from the first day of class.

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About printing open textbooks
Some open textbooks include interactive or frequently updated content that may not reproduce well in print, and printed copies will not reflect later updates.

For faculty: If you are using an open textbook and would like a print copy to be available in the Library’s Textbook Center, please contact your subject librarian.

For students: If you want to print an open textbook assigned in your course, you may use campus computer labs or CSU Printing and Duplicating, which offers binding options for longer documents. Additional commercial printing options near campus may also be useful.

Learn more about printing through Printing and Duplicating, Brothers Printing, or printMe1.com.