Eastern students start and end each semester with a trip to Textbook Rental Services.

Eastern is one of the few colleges in Illinois that offers a rental system for their students.

The result is a set cost for rental and is included in students’ tuition bills. However, some students may find themselves paying additional fees at the end of the semester.

Most colleges sell new and used textbooks for their students to buy for classes. This allows them to mark in them and keep them if they wish, but that can become expensive.

Because Eastern students rent their books they must be returned in the same condition they were rented. Students have to pay for any damages, such as highlighting, writing marks or water damage, to the books they were renting.

Carol Miller, deputy director of Textbook Rental Services, said students are encouraged to take care of their assigned textbooks in order to avoid any cost for damages.

“We ask that students look through their books when they first receive them,” she said. “The textbooks are like any other type of rental. There should be no writing, highlighting, damage, etc. when the book is returned.”

Miller said any damage or the loss of a textbook should be reported to Textbook Rental as soon as possible rather then waiting until the end of the semester.

“The cost for the book will be significantly less earlier in the semester to replace a book,” she said. “Where at the end of the semester, the book will be priced at a set listed cost.”

Students are required to pay for lost textbooks. Such payments are non-refundable. Gabriela Garcia, a transfer student from Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, formerly bought all of her books and said she thinks the textbook rental system is a money saver.

“I am saving about 70 percent on renting my texts over the full price of books at the community college that I transferred from,” she said.

If students are interested in purchasing any of their textbooks for courses in which they are enrolled, subject to the availability of replacements, the rental service will be having a book sale period during the entire month of October.

Textbooks can also be purchased during sidewalk sales at discounted prices periodically during the year. There will be no textbook sales after the designated sales period.

The best time to visit Textbook Rental is after classes have begun and during regular workdays during the semester. “I’ve never had any problems receiving or returning my books,” Garcia said. “The staff is very helpful and willing to help. I went for my books the first day of classes and I was in and out in 10 minutes.”