After the recent launch of the Student Association’s book exchange program, students now have another option to get money for their books.

The new program, which was budgeted for $5,335 from the SA’s administrative budget, began late last week without approval from the SA Senate.

Lee Blankenship, manager of the Village Commons Bookstore, doesn’t think the program will take off.

“I’ve been in the book-buying business for 35 years, and I’ve seen a lot of this type of thing with book exchanges over the years,” he said. “I guess there is a misconception that college bookstores make a lot of money.”

Blankenship said that once the bookstores have bought back all the books they need for next semester, students are put in a difficult situation.

“What I would caution students is that the best time to sell your books is finals time,” Blankenship said. “Once we fill up and go to other sources, the [buyback] price drops.”

When students sell their books back to either bookstore, they can be assured about their transaction and the policies around it, Blankenship said.

“The one thing about bookstores is that we guarantee the sale,” Blankenship said. “I think under the system they’re working now it’s sort of a buyer beware.”

Blankenship said departments and instructors can change the books they will use for next semester at any moment, which is why books are guaranteed at the bookstore.

“These things go on until after school starts in January,” Blankenship said. “If you can buy used books, the text doesn’t cost as much.”

If a book suddenly is changed by the department, the students who have the wrong book are able to come back and get the right one, Blankenship said.

While many students find themselves stuck with books they can’t return each semester, bookstores do all they can to try and get money for the students.

“There are books we can’t buy back, and these are books that are old editions or don’t have national value,” Blankenship said.

Once the cap is filled for books students need, bookstores seek a national demand for the books, Blankenship said. If there is a demand, the bookstores buy the books back and ship them out. If not, the bookstores are not able to give students money back for their books.

While members of the SA call their new system a beta test, Blankenship said he doesn’t think it will have a lot of effect.

“The ones that I’ve seen in the past haven’t affected us a whole lot,” Blankenship said. “I think most students would like to get their money as soon as possible.”

The SA’s book exchange program can be accessed through its Web site at www.sa.niu.edu.