Q. Can I get textbooks that I am supposed to purchase for free from the library?

Texbooks are sometimes hard to get from libraries because it is hard to provide books for all students in the course and also to keep up with new editions, but it is possible sometimes if you find a copy at our library or we can borrow it from another library.  We can often get you a PDF of part of the textbook (10% limit).  For books you need that are not textbooks, we can often get them or may have them already as a book or e-book.
 

1. First, look up your textbook in Primo library search using the title and author. Here I used the example Elements of Ecology by Smith, and these are the results.

2. If we own the book, cllick it and look for green request links that say "Request Regent's Copy" (mail) or "Request PDF of chapter/article." You can see that we don't own this example book, but it can probably be borrowed from other libraries. If you want to request it from other libraries, click the blue request box in the book record in Primo.

Steps to request the book: 

1. Click on the edition you want after searching for it in Primo

2. Sign in to Primo (your name will appear in the top right if signed in).

3. In the page for the book you want, find the green request links if we own it, or if we don't, find the blue boxes that say "get physical copy" or "get PDF of chapter" and choose one. It can be mailed to you if it's available, but then you need to mail it back.  To get a PDF, it's quicker and you won't need to mail it back because it comes by e-mail, but you're limited to 10% of the book.

More Free or Low-Cost Options

Another option is to use a free copy on Internet Archive, which usually has older editions. You need a free account there to check it out online and read it online.

You can also try to buy a used copy online.