The cost of damaged, late and unreturned books totaled nearly $150,000 for spring semester, according to Textbook Rental estimates.

Carol Miller, deputy director of Textbook Rental, said the implementation of the auto bill pay system in August 2007 has reduced charges to students because of e-mail notifications.

Upon collection, late fines are allocated to Textbook Rental’s general fund. The majority of funds goes toward the purchase of new textbooks.

Miller said water damage is the most common cause of books rendered non-returnable.

Textbook Rental advises students to protect textbooks by carrying them in a waterproof bag and keeping them away from food and drink. Excessive writing and highlighting is also discouraged.

Last week, Eastern undecided major Kyle Pakosta walked his books back to Textbook Rental in the rain. A soft cover book was on top of the stack, he said.

“At first, I was worried,” Pakosta said. “I didn’t want to be stuck paying for it.”

Upon entering, a student worker gave him a paper towel and told him that they wouldn’t take the wet book.

But Pakosta said after waiting in line, a different student worker accepted the dried book.

“I was lucky that book with the plastic cover was on top of the stack,” he said.

Eastern senior elementary education major Megan McConnell wasn’t so lucky.

Two of her seven books were deemed water-damaged the same day, and Textbook Rental wouldn’t accept them. Yesterday, walked in hoping for a different student worker – and better luck.

“They didn’t take them,” McConnell said. “I wrote an appeal, but we’ll see how far that goes.”

The Textbook Rental Web site advises students to contact the department immediately upon first encountering a situation in which a book may become water damaged.

“Waiting to report damage until later in the semester may result in charges,” the Web site reads.

Thomas Stevens can be reached at 581-7942 or at tmstevens@eiu.edu.

Textbook rental employee Pat Sparks checks for damage as junior political science major Hillary VanDyke signs to receive her books Wednesday afternoon. (Erin Matheny/ The Daily Eastern News)

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