By By John P. Leonard

The University’s Axinn Library and Student Government Association introduced a textbook lending system that enables students to access certain required texts free of charge.

The focus is on books costing more than $100 and are used in courses with multiple sections.

“Students can check out textbooks for two hours and can renew it if no one else is waiting. All you need is your student ID,” Sarah McCleskey, head of access services, said. “We really hope the students will take advantage.”

The textbooks are available to all students, but like reference materials, they may not be removed from the library.

The Academic Affairs Committee first proposed a textbook lending program over the summer, running parallel to, yet independent of, Sen. Charles Schumer’s push for rentable textbooks in campus bookstores.

Top on the library’s wishlist are textbooks required for classes with course numbers up to 100, and the plan is to purchase one textbook for every three sections.

The library will initially concentrate on textbook-based courses over software-based, and lower-level courses over upper-level.

A regularly updated list of available texts can be found on the “Library Catalog” icon on the “Libraries” page of the University Web site.

So far, the library has spent $7,000 and SGA has spent $10,000 to purchase the textbooks.

“The problem with textbooks is that most publish new editions every few years,” said Daniel Rubey, the dean of Library and Information Services.

More than 100 students have loaned textbooks and the library is planning on buying a new series.