Book Smart

Book Smart logo, stack of books with the words book smart

 

Book Smart is our new all-encompassing, affordable textbook rental program that provides students with all required textbooks, lab manuals, access codes and electronic book versions before the first day of class. The average student is estimated to save 30 to 35 percent on textbooks a semester. Students will be automatically enrolled.

How it works

 

Image of books that says $29 per credit hour

Program pricing: $29 per credit hour

Order your books

Register for your courses

Upon registering for courses, undergraduate students will be automatically enrolled into the program. Once you’ve successfully selected your courses, the bookstore will start preparing your order.

Verify your order

Starting 30 days before the first day of classes, you will receive an order verification link to your SUNY Adirondack email to verify your order and select your delivery preference. Options are in-store pickup, shipping directly to you, or digital materials available on BrightSpace.

Receive your books

An email notification will be sent when your order is ready for pickup or when it ships. Your digital materials will be delivered for your course(s) within BrightSpace.

Opt-out

We encourage students to enjoy deeply discounted and guaranteed course material for the first day of class. We also understand this program may not meet the needs of every student.

If you do not wish to participate in Book Smart, you need to opt out every semester.

 

FAQs

What is the Book Smart program?
Book Smart is a course material model that lowers the cost of materials for students and ensures they have access to all required course materials on or before the first day of class. Through this program, physical books will be conveniently packaged and provided to students on a rental basis, and digital materials will be delivered directly within the campus LMS (Brightspace). Costs will be applied to the student bill. At the end of the term, students will receive email reminders to return their physical course materials to the bookstore.

How does it work?

  • Register for your classes and the bookstore will start preparing your course materials
  • One month before classes start, you will receive an email instructing you to select your delivery preference (in-store pickup or shipped directly to you)
  • An email notification will be sent when your order is ready for pickup or when it ships
  • Your digital materials will be delivered for your course(s) within the LMS

 
What is included in the program?
The program provides all required textbooks, lab manuals, access codes and digital materials to eligible students.

What is excluded from the program?
Nursing (NUR) courses are not included in this program. The program does not include consumables that cannot be returned and reused such as lab goggles, dissection kits, molecular model kits, engineering kits or nursing kits.
 
How do I enroll in the program?
All eligible students will be automatically enrolled in the Book Smart program.

Can I opt out of the program?
While Book Smart provides convenient and affordable access to all required course materials, students have the option to opt out of this program. Students who opt out will need to obtain their required textbooks, lab manuals, access codes and digital materials. Required materials can be viewed on the bookstore website.

How do I purchase my course materials if I decide to opt-out of the program?
Students will be responsible for purchasing their required course materials through the bookstore.  

When are my textbook rentals due back to the bookstore?
The deadline to return all rental textbooks is the last day of finals for the semester. Students will receive email reminders ahead of the rental deadline.
 
Can I buy my rented textbook?
Yes, the program provides you with the option to purchase textbooks at a reduced rate during the return period.
 
Do I need to return books if they are for a continuation course?
Yes, you will still be required to return continuation course textbooks. You will be issued the same title for the next semester of the continuation course.

What happens if I never verify my order?
Students will receive emails and phone calls from the bookstore to remind them to verify their order. If the student does not opt out, rental materials will be held at the bookstore, digital materials will be accessible within the LMS, and the student's account will be charged.

If I never pick up my books, will I still get charged?
Yes, if the student does not opt out, their materials will be held at the bookstore and their student account will be charged.

What if I drop a class?
If you already received your materials, you may simply return them to the bookstore within 48 hours. If you drop a class and enroll in a different class, the bookstore will “swap” the required textbooks or access codes to ensure you have what you need for your current course schedule.

Can I opt out if I picked up my textbooks?     
Yes; you have 48 hours to return your textbooks. If you do not return the textbooks, the charges for the bundle will remain on your student account and be owed to the college.

Will Book Smart change the bookstore advance process? 
No. Students with excess grant aid will still automatically get a bookstore advance placed on their account to use at the bookstore for non-textbook materials (knife kit, scrubs, laptop, etc). Those with excess loan funds will still need to complete the application to use this option.

How does Book Smart work for digital materials that require access codes?

Log into Brightspace and click on any of your courses. Scroll down until you see the Book Smart logo and click the link just below it, "Click Here for your Digital Content." You should see all your digital materials. If a course key or link is needed, that should be outlined in your course syllabus.

What is Book Smart?
Book Smart is a course material model that reduces the cost of materials for students and ensures they have all their materials across all courses before the first day of classes. Instead of purchasing materials a la carte, the cost will be included as a charge to their tuition. The bookstore will provide each student with a convenient package for physical books and digital materials will be delivered directly to Brightspace.

How does Book Smart benefit students?
Book Smart makes getting textbooks easier on students, which will ultimately improve their success. Students will receive their textbooks by the first day of class and save an average of 35 percent to 50 percent on textbooks.

How can faculty contribute to the success of the program?
Faculty contribute to the program's success by submitting their course material selections into the bookstore by the adoption deadline.
Adoption deadlines:

  • March 1, Summer
  • May 1, Fall
  • Oct. 1, Winter/Spring

What is included in the program? 
The program provides all required textbooks, lab manuals, access codes and digital textbook versions to eligible students.

What is excluded from the program? 
The program does not include consumables that cannot be returned and reused such as lab goggles, dissection kits, molecular model kids and culinary uniforms. Nursing is currently excluded from Book Smart. 

How do students purchase if they decide not to be in the program?
Eligible students who have elected to opt out of the program will be responsible for purchasing their course materials through the bookstore.

How does BNC ensure students get their required course materials?
One month before classes start, students will receive an email instructing them to select their fulfillment preference (in-store pickup or shipped directly). An email notification will be sent when the student's order is ready for pickup or when it ships, and digital materials will be delivered for course(s) within Brightspace.

Will faculty have to change course materials being used?
No, there are no restrictions on the course materials you select for your course. All course materials, from any publisher, in your preferred format are included in the program.

Why not work directly with publishers?
Publishers do not have the ability to provide all the different formats of content that faculty request at the lowest price possible.

How can we be sure this will lower textbook costs for our students?
BNC is committed to lowering the costs of course material to our students, and with the company's integrated supply chain and economies of scale, the Book Smart program brings a new innovative way to provide the most affordable solution for our students.

Will students be able to keep their course materials once they complete the course?
Yes, the program provides students the option to purchase textbooks at a reduced rate during the return period.

What happens if a faculty member changes their course material adoption?
If a faculty member changes their course material adoption, faculty should notify the bookstore and the bookstore will ensure students receive corrected course materials. 

What if my teaching assignment changes (e.g., I was scheduled to teach one course, but later assigned to another)?
The bookstore is committed to helping as they normally do in those situations. We will work to update the textbook adoption platform with the new materials.

What happens if a student drops/adds a course?
Student who add or drop a course are provided instructions for returning course materials, and provided delivery options for any new courses added.

What if students have questions or trouble accessing their digital course materials?
All students in the Book Smart program using digital materials should be directed to contact Bookstore Customer Care at bookstorecustomercare@bncollege.com for assistance. 

Are faculty limited to the Open Education Resource options BNC has partnerships with?
Faculty can find low- or no-cost affordability solutions, recommended in line with relevant courses if there are no OER campus restrictions with course materials for their course. 

If I adopt Open Education Resources or do not require a textbook, do my students still have to pay the fee?
Students will pay for the total number of credits taken a semester, not by the number of courses using the program. Students have the option to opt out for all classes in their term.

How do we ensure course materials in the Book Smart program are accessible to students with accommodations?
The bookstore can accommodate students with accessibility needs.