COD Offers Discount Book Rental Program

Nine Courses Eligible for Discount Book Rental Program

PALM DESERT — When classes for spring term begin Monday, Jan. 29 at College of the Desert, students can rent selected books in nine courses for a nominal fee of $5 per term thanks to a discount book rental program.

The savings will be monumental as the cost of a single new chemistry book is nearly $400.

The College has had a book rental program in the past but the “prices did not reflect as much of a break for students’ financial burden as we would have liked,” Interim President/Superintendent Laura Hope told trustees at their regular board meeting earlier this month.

Vice President of Student Services Jeff Baker said, “We do a lot of amazing things for our students, but we know they face a lot of challenges. We serve the most diverse students with the most diverse needs.” One of the biggest challenges, he said, is access to books.

In order for students to rent textbooks, they must show proof of enrollment for the class they are renting books for at the bookstores at the Palm Desert Campus or Indio Campus. Books are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. If a book is not returned, the student is responsible for the full cost of the book.

The discount book rental program, which has a $100,000 budget for the pilot program, is made possible by the generous donations from COD Friends of the Library and the Lisa Wendel Memorial Foundation.

Catherine Abbott, executive director of College of the Desert Foundation, told trustees the opportunity is “really resonating” with donors who are excited to support the effort.

“It’s an exciting demonstration of the way COD comes together to make sure we do our very best for students,” Hope said.

Learn more about the program: https://www.collegeofthedesert.edu/students/textbook-rental.php