The Lending Library: Helping students with books in an unconventional way Erika Callahan Rosalba Conde Northern Essex Community College MASFAA Conference, Southbridge MA November 17, 2016

About Northern Essex Community College Public, two-year college that offers academic programs leading to Associate Degrees and Certificates Located in Haverhill and Lawrence Almost half of our population is considered a minority as well as first generation college students Bachelor Degree transition programs offered on campus through Lyndon State College (VT), Regis College and UMASS-Lowell

What are the most common complaints from students about books? “I don’t have enough financial aid for my books!” “Where is my book voucher?” “One book costs $400!” “I applied for financial aid yesterday and I need my books today!” “I couldn’t sell my books back to the bookstore because the edition changed and now I am stuck with books I will never use again!” Can you think of any others?

What is the Lending Library? A resource to help reduce the cost of books to students by providing either semester or year-long access (based on the courses and program a student is enrolled in) to textbooks, workbooks, and technology (access codes, calculators) The intent is to help those students who: cannot afford the entire cost of their books for any given semester those whose financial aid application is still in process at the beginning of a semester (more typical in Fall than Spring) or to help those whose only option is to take out a small loan to cover the cost of their books thus reducing their borrowing burden

Student Eligibility for the Lending Library Meet the financial aid eligibility criteria as set up by the Financial Aid Office (i.e. SAP, degree seeking student, applied for aid) Demonstrate need for the Lending Library (i.e. not enough aid for book voucher or book voucher is not sufficient to cover all books/resources) Submits a Lending Library Request Form to the Financial Aid Office Signs a Lending Library Contract

The Lending Library Request Students are made aware of the Lending Library either by fellow students, faculty, staff or the Financial Aid Office Students are then referred to the Financial Aid Office to determine eligibility If eligible, students are either sent a request form via email or it may be picked up in the Financial Aid Office (it is not published online) The request form will then go to the Lending Library Coordinator on either campus. Final determination if student is eligible to borrow from program Checks to see if resources/books are available Notifies student via email if resources/books are available, when and where (i.e. Haverhill or Lawrence) to pick up

Lending Library Contract All students who borrow from the Lending Library are required to sign a contract at the time of pick-up The contract will list the books and resources lent with their replacement cost The contract states: Must return textbooks and resources within 24 hours of the last day of the semester (December 21st) Lost or stolen resources are the student’s responsibility and will be charged for those resources if not returned Student understands that if he/she does not return the textbooks/resources he/she will be charged a replacement cost and a hold will be placed on the account Student understands that the Financial Aid Office has the right to deny future use of the Lending Library if student does not return the textbooks

Lending Library Process Process request form Refer to catalog and update accordingly Banner Notify Student Update Check Out once resources are picked up and contract is signed At the end of the semester: Return textbooks, update catalog accordingly Notify Payment Office of any students who do not return the textbooks/resources so holds can be placed on the accounts

History of the Lending Library It was piloted in Fall 2013 Received donations from our book store when transitioning to new vendor Started by the director of financial aid During the initial semester we helped 79 students borrowing 129 items This semester we have helped 75 students borrowing 108 items

How do we fund the lending library? Donations from students, faculty and staff Grant funding specifically STEM grant funding Recommending students to donate books back who used institutional scholarship money to purchase books Institutional Scholarships Faculty cooperation allowing students to use older editions of textbooks Textbook taskforce committee comprised of faculty, staff and students to lower the overall costs of textbooks Money received from students who do not return books at the end of the semester gets put toward future purchases of textbooks/resources.

Does it work? Fall 2015 to Fall 2016, the Lending Library had a retention rate of 57%, the overall college retention rate was around 47% for the 2014-2015 academic year From Fall 2015 to Spring 2016, retention was 78% Many students return to borrow from the Lending Library each semester

Limitations of the Lending Library Not all books/resources are available Faculty who do no allow older editions to be used Limited number of books for specific courses Student assumption that filling out the request will guarantee books Lack of donations

Questions?