The end of the semester often brings a deluge of exams, papers and projects for students, but it also brings the opportunity to sell back those textbooks that have been read religiously since January. Or in some cases, opened for the first time this week.

The University Bookstore began buying books back Monday.

“Any book that has a national wholesale value will be bought by either the bookstore or the wholesale book companies we use for buyback,” University Bookstore manager Don Turk said. “We pay more for books that have been adopted by an instructor or department for the next semester.”

The University Bookstore pays 50 percent of a new textbook regardless for a whether it’s new or used. For example, if a new book costs $100 and a used copy is $75, the student would receive $50. They can only offer this, however, if the text is being used next semester and if they still need copies.

“Sell your books as early as you can once we start buying if we are paying half,” Turk said. If we’re not, talk to your instructor, and if they are going to use the text again, have them send us the adoption form.”

Turk also suggests students return any CD’s that came with the text as well as taking proper care of their books.

“If books are torn or damaged, we can’t buy them back,” Turk said.

The Village Commons Bookstore began buying textbooks back last week but is expecting the rush to begin this week.

“We try to pay the highest wholesale price if the book isn’t going to be used again next year,” VCB general manager Lee Blankenship said.

Some students, like junior psychology major Erin Glascott, elect to hang onto their textbooks for future reference.

“I haven’t been selling mine because I need them for my major,” Glascott said.

A final option that students may overlook is the ability to sell books online through Web sites like eBay or Amazon.

“I usually sell my books at the University Bookstore, but if they don’t buy a book, I try to sell it

online,” junior education major Corinne Keane said.