Top Textbooks at GW Libraries

$192,513 in textbook savings

Based on individual checkouts per semester

The Top Textbooks at GW Libraries program acquires up to five copies of required textbooks for a select group of undergraduate, high enrollment courses with traditionally expensive textbooks and places them on course reserve for use by all students. Textbooks are available for use in accordance with current course reserve practices and loan periods. Top Textbooks are available both at Gelman Library and at Eckles Library, although only Gelman has the full collection.

Background

The escalating price of textbooks is a significant concern for undergraduate students, and many students struggle to afford the $1200 average cost of textbooks and supplies each year. The Top Textbooks program, launched in fall 2017, began as a proposal by former Student Association president Peak Sen Chua and continues as a collaboration with the Student Association. We continue to make improvements to the program each semester, thanks to input from students like you -- for instance, the extended three-hour loan period is a direct result of your feedback!

How It Works

Students can come to either the Gelman or Eckles Library Check Out Desk any time it is open to request the textbook for a participating course. If the textbook is available (not currently on loan to another student) the student may check the book out with their GWorld card to use for three hours. Textbooks may be used overnight if checked out in the three hours before the Check Out Desk closes. Items must be returned before 8:30 AM the following day.

At Gelman, course reserve materials must be returned to the Reserve Book Drop located in the front of the Check Out Desk, or fines may be incurred. Unreturned books will incur a fine for the cost of replacing the book. Reserve materials may not be renewed. Once items have been returned, they can be checked out again after a 15-minute waiting period.

In the event that an instructor changes or adds a required textbook during the semester, you may experience a delay while Top Textbooks acquires the new book.

How to Check if a Textbook is Currently Available

To see whether a textbook is currently available in Gelman or Eckles Library (i.e., not currently checked out by another student), search the library catalog for course reserves. To learn how to search for course reserves, visit our How Do I? page on the topic.

Top Textbooks includes required books for the following courses in spring semester 2019:

Hours of Operation

Fines for Late Returns

Fines are an important tool to make sure circulating items are returned promptly and are available for everyone. To ensure these textbooks remain available, late returns will be assessed a fine of $1.20/hour per item with a $30.00 maximum fine per item.

Questions or Suggestions

Please contact any member of the library implementation team with questions or suggestions:

Dorinne Banks
Amanda Darby
Joscelyn Leventhal
David Lemmons
Morgan Stoddard

Looking for Assistance with Financial Insecurity?

The Store: GW's Food Pantry provides food, toiletries, and school supplies to students facing insecurity. Through the Financial Aid Office, emergency funding is also available to students in some situations.