Starting this fall, students will be able to rent many of their textbooks from Broad Street Books, rather than purchase them. According to Bookstore Manager Nancy Healy, rental prices are usually 50 to 55 percent less than purchase prices.

In order to rent books, students must be 18 years or older and present a form of government issued ID, and a credit or branded debit card. All rental books must be returned by the last day of finals or students will be charged 75 percent of the book’s price as well as a processing fee of 7.5 percent of the price. Students may also convert their rentals into purchases with no additional fees until Oct. 31 by paying the remainder of the selling price.

Healy estimates that 450-500 titles are currently available for rent. Follett Higher Education Group, the company that owns Broad Street Books, initiated the rental program as part of a nationwide company policy change.

Healy says that the program was started to reduce textbook costs for students.

“Textbook affordability is a really big problem,” she said.