Letter to the editor

I would like to present a different opinion on used books than generally expressed by Coats' article "Bookstore attempts to appeal to online shoppers' loyalty" in the April 16 edition of the Messenger.

Even though online prices may be cheaper, I choose to look for books in the St. Olaf Bookstore because of their worn quality. When looking through the bookstore shelves, I search for the books that have the most writing, underlining and highlighting in them, markings that I could not have seen through any online bookseller. I want to meet my book before I decide to engage myself in its pages.

I find that books with earmarked pages and comments in the margins are the most helpful in my studies. Marked-up pages often pull out main points that I may not have noticed or provide commentary and pose questions that I would otherwise not have considered. It's like having a discussion group on hand every time you flip through the pages!

Used books also provide me with more freedom and less stress. I am never worried that my book is going to have its crisp corners mussed or pages wrinkled from floating around in my backpack, ready to be read at a moment's notice in the bag lunch line or in the few minutes before biology begins.

Used books also permit me the freedom to add my own commentary. By adding my own comments and highlighting what I think is important, I can easily review for papers and exams without worry about keeping my books in perfect condition to preserve their resale value. Why would I want to re-sell my books anyway? You do not get a good value when you re-sell them to the bookstore, so why not just keep them?

Books provide a tangible reminder of what you have learned here at St. Olaf. Perhaps one day in the future you will need to reference what you have learned: how will you do that without your books? Plus, they will look impressive on a bookshelf in your post-graduation home, more so if they are well-used.

For me, buying books from the St. Olaf Bookstore is not all about money or even about convenience. I want to see my books in person because I want to find the book that will allow me to learn best. I want to retain my education post-finals, and the best way to do that is to purchase books that I can see will help me to achieve that goal.
 

Rachel Butler ‘12 (butlerr@stolaf.edu)