De Anza College students are turning to textbooks at the campus library for classes as textbook prices rise.
But the overall budget reductions at De Anza College may affect the library’s evening hours, as some part-time positions will be eliminated, while the full-time employees will not be laid off, said Tom Dolen, library coordinator.
Seven out of seven students randomly surveyed in the library said they check out textbooks or download electronic versions from the library instead of buying books for classes.
 “This textbook is too expensive for me to buy, so if it is available in the library it saves me money,” said Myah Rodriguez, 19, an English major, who was checking out a textbook for the first time while in her second quarter.
Jose Monteverde, 23, a psychology major, said he preferred to download online versions of books, but he also checks out textbooks from the reserve shelf even though books must be returned within four hours.  
Two out of seven students randomly surveyed on campus said they use the college library on a regular basis for their extra-curriculum reading, but the books of interest are connected to their major or minor.
“We have been fortunate for the last five years to receive money from the student government specifically to purchase textbooks,” said Dolen. “We used to get $10,000. For this year, the amount was increased to $15,000.”
 Frequently required textbooks ranked by expense are purchased first. “Mostly they are textbooks on math, chemistry and physics, they are very expensive and the classes are very popular,” he said.
Gabby Tamayo, 22, a psychology major and student worker at the library checkout said students are checking out textbooks instead of buying them because they are too expensive.  
Irene Niazov, a circulation desk supervisor said, she agrees that students are checking out mostly textbooks.  “They are very popular, no matter whether instructors put them on the reserve shelf for 24 hours or for three days.”
“I check out books because I enjoy reading beyond required texts,” said Teslie Mosco, 18, a psychology major. “I prefer nonfiction dealing with crimes because it is related to my minor.”