Have you ever wanted to know how much you can earn for your old textbook without bringing it in to the Bookstore? Well, now there鈥檚 an app for that.
The free mobile app鈥攏ow available through and the app store鈥攁llows students to scan the barcode of their used book with their smart phone to instantly find out the amount the Bookstore will pay for their used textbook. The app also works by typing in the ISBN number found above the book鈥檚 bar code.
Tina Shannon, the Bookstore鈥檚 manager, says AV俱乐部 is the first university in Atlantic Canada to adopt the new app, which was developed by the company Bookstore 2.0 based out of Kingston, Ont.
鈥淭he app is new this year and we jumped on it as soon as it was available,鈥� says Ms. Shannon, adding that the app offers her customers an added level of convenience. 鈥淣ow, instead of having to bring their old textbooks into the Bookstore when book buybacks are scheduled, they can do it from the comfort of their home. It really is very straightforward and easy-to-use.鈥�
Buyback - December 9-21
The app comes just days before one the Bookstore鈥檚 biggest book buyback events of the year. Running from December 9-21, the buyback event is expected to attract hundreds of students who want to turn in their old textbooks from courses that ended after the fall semester. Ms. Shannon explains that four major book buyback events are held every year鈥攁t the start and end of each semester鈥攁long with a smaller one held every Friday.
She estimates that about $230,000 is paid out to students each year through the book buyback program. And while the Bookstore would like to buy back as many books as possible, Ms. Shannon notes that not all textbooks are eligible for purchase.
鈥淏asically, we won鈥檛 accept books that have pages torn out or covers missing, or have signs of any water damage,鈥� Ms. Shannon says. But they don鈥檛 have to be in pristine condition, either. 鈥淎 little bit of highlighting and writing is expected, so we鈥檒l accept those just so long as it鈥檚 not too much.鈥�
The amount the used books are worth depends, in large part, if its associated course will be offered again the following semester 鈥� if it is, those books can fetch as much as 50 per cent of the original price. The Bookstore also buys books on behalf of an international wholesaler, so even if your textbook can鈥檛 be re-sold through the Dal Bookstore, it may still offer money for it if there鈥檚 a market for it somewhere else.
In addition to giving students the chance to earn some extra cash, Ms. Shannon points out that the book buyback program has a bigger benefit for the university in its ongoing efforts to becoming a leader in sustainability.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great recycling program,鈥� says Ms. Shannon. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just one more way we can help protect the environment.鈥�
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