Textbook costs affect many students, but that concern may be alleviated with the option of textbook rental.

NIU currently does not provide the option to rent books, but there are Web sites to help students save money.

Two private companies, Textbookflix.com and BookRenter.com, offer book rentals for college students, along with the option to purchase new books.

Many students said they prefer to opt for the least-expensive method.

“I think if you get a better deal than when you buy, it is something I would look into,” said junior nursing major Veronica Leopold.

A rental fee is charged along with the price for shipping the books. Both sites add an additional fee for each textbook.

Rental fees at BookRenter.com appear to be cheaper than at TextbookFlix.com. The latter’s prices are comparable to buying a used book at one of the local bookstores.

The condition of the rented books can be a cause for concern.

“Book condition would be my primary concern with it being passed through people to pay rental fees,” said junior business management major Dave Moore.

Renting textbooks does require some searching, as some sites are more expensive than others. Textbookflix offers rental periods of one to four months, while BookRenter is good for the entire semester. Rented books must be sent back after the rental period.