By VICTORIA ADDISON
Sports Editor
While the start of each semester may be a time to reconnect with friends and ease back into the college lifestyle, it is also the time to purchase textbooks, a task that every student on campus dreads.
For freshman Communications major Anne Vaeth, helping fellow students find cheap alternatives to purchasing textbooks brought about an idea that she decided to put into action. That idea would turn into Saint Rose Textbooks, a Facebook group aimed at helping others save money on course materials.
“I hope students who join the group are able to successfully buy, sell, and trade textbooks and other course materials, therefore saving money that can be better spent on other things”, said Vaeth, “like tuition and Red Bull.”
The group was started at the end of the fall semester, with Vaeth as the only founder. So far, it has around 90 members and continues to fill up with posts from those who are looking for books.
Vaeth hopes that the group will help students find books at a reasonable price, and earn money by selling those that are no longer of use.
“Finding a student who will sell the book to you for an affordable price is great,” she said. “I’m probably not the only one who has a stack of books collecting dust from previous semesters. So, if I am able to sell those, make some money, and help people, it’s fantastic.”
The idea came from Vaeth’s past experience with another college, that being Dutchess Community.
“I took a lot of classes at Dutchess Community College last year. They had a textbook exchange group that was and still is hugely successful,” explained Vaeth. “The group has almost 1,000 members.”
Prior to the creation of the Saint Rose Textbooks, many students would use the Facebook groups comprised of their fellow graduating class members to try to request and sell books. Upon noticing this trend, Vaeth thought of the idea to start a group based on textbooks, such as the one she encountered while taking classes at Dutchess Community.
“You can save money, and you know someone here is going to need that book,” she said. “Also, the group can help students who may not be able to afford textbooks at the retail price be providing access to those books, therefore helping them with their education.”
Upon visiting the page, students will be greeted with a message that reads: “A place to sell, exchange, and trade textbooks. Post what you have and what you need, include course numbers and professors.” They can then request to be added to the group and begin posting immediately after accepted.
According to Vaeth, many students joined when the group was first created, and then requests to join quieted down for some time afterwards. Once the spring semester started, membership began to increase again.
“I believe for being so new the group has been successful. It currently has 90 members, and I have seen a good number of sales happen. I hope it keeps growing,” said Vaeth.
As mentioned on the College Board’s website, the average college student spends around $1,000 on textbooks and course supplies each year. Fortunately, there are many options for students who are not able to afford textbooks at their full cost.
Other than the Saint Rose Textbooks group, Vaeth suggests purchasing eBooks instead, or possibly sharing with friends who are in the same class. For books that are more literature based, consider borrowing them from the library. Students can also rent textbooks for cheaper prices at the campus bookstore or online through sites such as Chegg and Amazon.
“This site could assist students who have trouble affording the current textbooks and/or want to see them go to someone who needs them,” said Communications professor and co-chair Karen McGrath. “Students struggle to keep up with the cost of renting and buying course materials and this Facebook page can assist them in a number ways across disciplines.”
