Options available for purchasing textbooks by Kelly Aaron The Ranger Reporter

The Amarillo College Bookstore, Barnes and Nobles online and the Adult Students Program are several ways to accumulate the textbooks students need each semester.

"My college math book was $80; in high school, it was free," said Roger Trimmer, an engineering major. The average cost of a book at the AC bookstore is $89.50, said Connie Windows, AC Bookstore manager.

"Most of the money from the sale of books goes to scholarships here at AC," Windows said.

One of the biggest competitors of the college bookstores is online shopping. "I don't see the online sales as a threat," Windows said. "We operate our business with high integrity, and I believe you reap what you sow."

Barnes and Nobles online, www.bn.com, has free shipping when you order two or more books. "The books were cheaper on the Internet," said Stephanie Leard, a medical data specialist major. The average life of an AC textbook is 18 months. "The prices are outrageous for the short time you use them," said Charlie Hill, a mass communications major.

Barnes and Nobles has a buy-back policy for a vast number of books. If the books can be bought back, they will send a shipping label out to the customer." It works, it's pretty convenient actually," said Brandon Purcell, a graphic design major.

Another alternative to getting textbooks is Adult Student Program. "We target single or married adult students at least 24 years old who have children," said Nancy Brent, Adult Student Program coordinator.

The adult program allows individuals who are qualified to check out up to five books from the library each semester at no cost. Funding for the books is made available by a portion of the Perkins bill and the AC Foundation.

"If I wasn't in the program, my books would have been as much as my tuition this semester," said Kim Sims, a nursing major. The next deadline to apply for the adult program is Oct. 29. "We're very fortunate to have this program," Brent said. "There are not many other programs as successful as ours."