subject: Looking At College Textbooks As More Than Just Study Aids [print this page] Although many university students decide to sell textbooks back after completing a course, now is the optimal time to begin building a professional library by keeping the books. A set of college texts serves as the foundation for a lifetime reference library that supports any career choice. Every well-appointed professional's office includes an extensive collection of valuable volumes for ready consultation, and now could be the time to initiate building just such a personal library.
Even before choosing a major, students should consider which of their textbooks may serve them in the future. Despite the common view that once the class is successfully completed the book is no longer needed, it is wiser to evaluate if the text would be better viewed as an investment in the future.
With a rapidly changing economy, many people are facing multiple career changes. The more resources available, the easier these transitions are, and books make a wonderful resource.
It will take some thoughtfulness to develop this new attitude about textbooks. Seeing them as an investment might be difficult at first. The shortsighted view sees no immediate need to keep all these books. They are heavy, difficult to move, and it can be a relief to simply be finished with the class and the books. It helps to talk with professors and other professionals, asking them how they built their libraries, and if they regret not keeping their college books if they didn't. They are looking from a different perspective and have valuable advice on the subject.
Keeping texts in excellent condition helps preserve them for the future. Protect them with covers to keep the bindings free from damage. Set them upright on shelves, not just tossed about the dorm room. Instead of using highlighters, try using sticky tabs to accentuate important passages. This is all part of the new attitude, viewing textbooks as much more than just study aids.
Before purchasing a book, try to determine if this will be one to keep. If not, consider the more economical options of renting or buying used. Courses in the student's major will almost always be a source of texts to keep, and these should be bought new. With the continually rising costs of textbooks, buying a similar one in the future will assuredly cost more than keeping the current one.
Although a wealth of information is readily available on the Internet, much of it does not meet professional standards. It is much better to have a reliable reference easily available on the bookshelf.
