We buy ebooks with licenses which allow for unlimited uses or print materials that are placed on two-hour library-use-only Reserve at the Circulation Desk. To submit a request, complete the Textbook Purchase Recommendation Form or contact Dee Anna Phares, Chair of the Textbook Task Force.
Be aware that:
- Priority is given to high-priced books or materials which will be used in high-enrollment courses or courses with multiple sections;
- Precedence is given to materials that will be utilized for several semesters;
- Undergraduate and graduate course materials are eligible.
- Texts with single-user codes will not be purchased unless the faculty member notes that materials accessible only with a code will not be used in the course;
- Course packs and customized textbooks are not eligible for purchase;
- Loose-leaf and spiral-bound texts, which are easily damaged, are not eligible for purchase;
- Multiple copies of textbooks will not be purchased; and
- Not all materials requested will be purchased; selection is contingent on the available budget.
Note: During the previous term, delivery of print textbook reserve purchases was seriously hampered by issues with the global supply chain; those issues continue, so please make requests early. We ask for your patience, as delays are beyond the control of NIU Libraries.
Finally, please consider visiting the LibGuide focused on Finding and Accessing Content for Courses: Free, Open, and Affordable Resources – this resource provides information on Open Educational Resources (OERs) and other free materials for use in your classrooms, including subject-specific open textbooks, as well as information on adapting and creating your own open materials. You can also find links to information on the Course Materials Affordability Task Force (started by the University Libraries and the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning in Spring 2021); faculty and staff members interested in course affordability and OER are invited to join the CMA Task Force.
