Text Requisition Frequently
Asked Questions

When are course materials orders due?

The Bookstore has a revolving schedule for when orders are due:

Fall/Full Year Courses –  April 1st
Winter Courses –   October 1st
Spring/Summer Course –  March 1st

Why does the store set such early deadlines for textbook adoption forms?

It takes time to process the large volume of textbook adoption forms for every course offered. There are all kinds of variables that may need to be pinned down in processing each book adoption request, like; resolving problems with requests and communicating back to faculty; preparing lists for used-book wholesalers; seeking out availability and best prices among multiple distributors; ascertaining when new editions will be available; finding out whether textbooks bundled with other components can be obtained separately; and reviewing enrollment figures and sales histories to help determine how many copies to buy. There are many other smaller tasks as well to get all of the books in and ready in time for class.

The store also needs the adoption forms in order to know which used books to buy back from students. In addition, because thousands of college bookstores are ordering books within the same period, wholesalers and publishers need time to process and ship the flood of orders as well.

We realize that textbook adoption due dates must seem early to you, and affects the amount of time you have to review and choose books for the next term. It means you must select your books many weeks before you will begin teaching a class-which can be particularly difficult if the course is new to you.

These dates ensure Availability and allow us to source Used Copies.

Availability
Ordering early ensures that course materials are available at the start of classes.  Publishers supply a worldwide market and delivery of textbooks may take six weeks or more if the books are printed overseas or are in demand.

Used Copies
Early re-adoption allows the Bookstore the opportunity to purchase textbooks back from students who have recently completed their course at 50% of their purchase price.  This benefits the students in two ways:  it reduces the cost for the student leaving the course by 50% and allows the Bookstore to offer the textbook to new students at a used price giving them an alternate price point. The earlier that we have textbook adoption forms in hand, the more used copies we can obtain from students and used-book wholesalers.

How Are Faculty Vital to Buyback?

Obtaining a quality education can place a financial burden on many college students. Just as the school attempts to keep tuition and fee increases to a minimum, the bookstore also tries to help students by ensuring the lowest possible price on textbooks and course materials.

One principle way that the store tries to make textbooks more affordable is by stocking as many used books as we can. Students demand used books-used copies nearly always sell out before new copies.

Where do we get used books? We buy back used copies students do not plan to keep for their personal libraries. We also purchase used  books from national wholesale companies, who buy them from students at other campuses. End-of-term “buyback” not only provides a healthy supply of used books for the next term, it also gives money back to the students who do not wish to keep a particular book.

Did you know that faculty plays the most critical role of all in the buyback process? The buyback process really begins when the bookstore receives textbook adoption forms from faculty for the next term. Only when the store has your course requirements can we determine which used books to buy back from students on this campus, and which books to order from wholesalers and publishers.

The earlier that we have textbook adoption forms in hand, the more used copies we can obtain from students and used-book wholesalers. That’s why we need your textbook adoption information months before the term begins. University bookstores across the continent are competing for a limited supply of used books, particularly for newer titles, which of course have fewer total used copies in circulation. If wholesalers know our campus is seeking certain titles, they will be in a better position to purchase them for us on other campuses.

The store may work with more than one wholesaler in an effort to secure more used copies for students. And, if wholesaler s cannot furnish all the used books we need, we still have time to order new books for delivery before classes.

Is it possible for students to access used books when there is a new edition?

New editions of textbooks are introduced approximately every three years, often with only minor differences.  Allowing an older edition to be used where practical will maintain the value of used books to students.  If we know sufficiently far in advance that used books are allowed, we may be able to obtain special prices for the older edition, thereby helping to keep overall textbook costs down for students.

Why doesn’t the Bookstore order 100% of my class enrollment?

We know that not every student will purchase the required materials.  Some students share materials; other students do not buy any of the materials.  The Bookstore reviews past sales history all on textbooks and reduces the quantity ordered accordingly.

When are unsold books returned to the publisher?

Fall Term –    2nd week of December
Full Year –   2nd week of March
Spring/Summer –  end of August

Why are unsold books returned?

Most publishers and distributors require bookstores to pay for course materials within 30 days of receipt.  The Bookstore remains self-sustaining by being fiscally responsible to the University.  Unsold materials must be returned to the respective publisher or distributor for credit.  Returning unsold materials allows our business to function fiscally.

How do I get desk copies and/or teaching aids?

Obtaining desk copies is the responsibility of the instructor or department.  Contact information for respective publishers, distributors or their representatives can be found below.

How do I order my textbooks?

It’s easy.  The following points should answer most of your questions.  If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us.

• Online Textbook requisition forms and other useful information for Faculty (such as links to Publisher Reps.) can be found here https://bookstore.dal.ca/for-faculty. You can also contact the buyer via phone or email. (Contact info here https://bookstore.dal.ca/store-info/contact-us)
• Each course must have a separate “textbook requisition form” submitted to the bookstore.
  If the same book is used in two half credit courses, two separate forms must be submitted.
• Please enter the actual date you plan to use the books by.
• Provide as much information as possible to ensure that the correct arrives (i.e. title, isbn, etc.)
• If at all possible, please adhere to ordering deadlines as there is a substantial lead time involved in obtaining all the materials necessary for classes.
• If you see books on the shelf at the store and ascertain that there are sufficient quantities on hand to meet your upcoming course needs, you still must submit an order for your class.  We do not keep books from one term to the next unless we have an order for them.
• Books that cannot be returned to the supplier will need to have a non-returnable form completed stating that any unsold copies will be used again or bought by the department before the bookstore will order them.
• If faculty order a book and then decide not to use it, the department will be responsible for shipping costs incurred to bring in the book and to ship it back to the publisher.
• Departments requesting special or expedited shipping for orders will be responsible for all fees and must supply us with an account number to bill the charges to.

Staying in touch

• Please notify the Bookstore if any of the following occur:
• Enrollment changes
• Course cancellations
• Textbook information changes