This fall, students have a new way to acquire their textbooks: renting them.

The University Bookstore and Boomer Sooner Textbooks are offering textbook rentals. Textbook rentals made a hasty introduction to OU in the 2009 spring semester when Boomer Sooner Textbooks put together a rental program two weeks before the semester began.

“We’ve gotten a good turn out so far for the summer,” said Devon Toland, manager of Boomer Sooner Textbooks.

Renting textbooks is an appealing venture for students as both The University Bookstore and Boomer Sooner Textbooks offer textbook rentals at half the price it would be to buy the book.

Manager Christina Chapman of University Bookstore said that the only requirement for students to rent is to have a credit card with their name on it in order for a student to be eligible to rent books.

Students are also able to rent textbooks online through University Bookstore website. On the Boomer Sooner Textbooks website, students can check to see if any of their textbooks qualify for renting and then go to the store and rent them.

“[About] 25 to 30 percent of the books are eligible to rent,” said Chapman. While at Boomer Sooner Textbooks, the textbook rental list is completely random.

“A list is sent down from our parent company, we never know what it’s going to be,” Toland said. “We add some textbooks to the list, ones that are used regularly through the fall and spring semester.”

A student who decides to rent textbooks signs an agreement with the bookstore stating that they will return the rented book at the end of the semester. Failure to do so will result in the full price of the book being charged to the student’s credit card.

Besides renting textbooks, bookstores are still offering used books for purchasing as well as other coupon promotions. Boomer Sooner Textbooks will be on campus during Rush Week, and is offering an additional 20 percent off in coupons for orientation.

Another option for students who are on a book budget this fall is to keep in mind that Bizzell Memorial Library offers a variety of textbooks used at OU. Available on a first come, first served basis textbooks may not be checked out for the full semester.

“We currently have approximately 1,700 unique titles on reserve,” public relations officer Sarah Robbins said. “We do not have textbooks for every course; we primarily purchase textbooks for general education courses that have high enrollments as well as courses that have comparatively high-cost textbooks.”

Students are able to check out textbooks at the main circulation desk of the library with their OU IDs. Books can be checked out for two hours, with an additional two-hour renewal option if needed.

“Textbooks can leave the building, but must be returned before the library closes,” Robbins said.