Store Offers College Textbook Rental

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- The cost of getting a college education is continuing to increase, but there's a new option for cash-strapped college students.

Video: Bookstore Offers Textbook Rental For Students

Like most college students, Antoine Woods goes to Middle Tennessee State University on a budget.

"The only time I need this book is for a test," said Woods.

After tuition, room, board and food, he doesn't have a lot left to spend, not even for books.

"There's no point in me spending $100 on a book that I'll use three times,” said Woods.

All across middle Tennessee students said their professors give them a list of books required for each class. Some classes require two, three, even four books.

But at the end of the semester, some students realize they've only used a couple of them, and the others were wasted money.

National statistics show 60 percent of college students don't buy every book their professors advise them to purchase.

But thanks to a Murfreesboro bookstore, every college student in middle Tennessee has the option of renting text books.

Blue Raider Books has joined forces with an on-line company called bookhead.com.

Students can simply log on to make sure the store has the book they need. They then reserve it and go pick it up.

"They rent the textbook for three days. They use it. They take the test. They go home and then bring it back to the store,” said Amber Langford of Blue Raider Books.

Some students consider book rentals a sound investment in their futures.

"You'd be able to come out to college with a whole lot less debt than what you go in to," said MTSU student Nathaniel Gallagher.

If the student doesn’t return the book on time, the store automatically renews the rental.