The bookstore offers many of its textbook titles in online versions through http://cafescribe.com. Currently, more than 70 books are available in this format. Any textbook that has an online option is being offered to the students.

“We definitely think electronic books and digital books is where the future is but we’re not quite there yet,” said Betsy Schneider, the campus store director.

Cafescribe.com is the website where students can download MyScribe. This program acts as a library for each student’s downloaded textbooks. Once the textbook downloads, students can read, take notes, share their notes, annotate their readings and search through the information, all through MyScribe. Students can download MyScribe and their textbooks on up to three different computers.

Students can either buy the access code at the bookstore or buy the textbook directly online.

One textbook offered in this format is the American politics textbook “Promise and Performance of American Democracy.” While the e-book costs less than $50, the bookstore charges $94.50 and $71 for the new and used versions of the textbook, respectively.

According to Schneider, cafescribe.com can also act as a communication platform for students and teachers and has many capabilities similar to Telesis.

To help familiarize students with MyScribe, Cafescribe.com features a free trial download of the books before students purchase them. The “Try Now, Buy Later” option works for seven days.

Within 14 days of purchasing the e-book online, students can return it for a refund and do not have to return or store their books at the end of the year.

“By buying the book online, it’s one less textbook that I have to carry around in my bag,” junior Brennan Keiser said.

Students and faculty are still getting used to the new e-book format.

“I think one of the disadvantages I hear from students is really getting used to reading on the screen. A lot of them still like to hold the book and take the book with them,” Schneider said.

Instead of buying an e-book, a lot of students chose to rent their textbooks this semester. This option has similar benefits of cost savings and environmental sustainability. Students can also save 25 percent by getting rental textbooks instead of buying them.

“If we can recycle books, the used book and even the rental book is also a sustainable option,” Schneider said.

The bookstore more visibly advertises rental books as a choice with very large, red signs on the walls and floor.

Many students claimed to have not known that there was even an option to purchase their textbook in an electronic format.

“At this point the bookstore is trying to be flexible and offer as many options as we can so students can choose,” Schneider said.

Though e-books have made it to Washington University, students doubt that the e-books’ note-taking and highlighting feature will be the same as doing those things in textbooks. (Kim Jones | Student Life)

Textbooks have just made the transition into the 21st century, as more and more are jumping online to become e-books.

Now, the Danforth Campus Bookstore, managed by Follett Higher Education Group, is following the national trend by offering students this up-and-coming textbook option.

E-books have three main advantages, according to Isabella Hinds, director of digital content for Follett: They are lower in cost, leave a smaller environmental impact and are improved study tools.

Most e-books offered through Follett are priced 55 percent lower than the new versions of their hardcover equivalents.

Once a student purchases an e-book, the material is downloaded to the student’s hard drive. Each e-book can be accessed on up to three computers.

Despite the advantages of e-books, some students feel uncertain about making the switch.

One common benefit of traditional textbooks is that students can highlight passages in them. Though e-books have a feature that allows users to highlight and take notes on the computer, students doubt the effect would be the same.

To address such questions and concerns, Follett is spearheading a program called Try Now, Buy Later, which allows students to test any e-book free of charge for one week.

Though e-books have been on sale in the bookstore since the beginning of the semester, most students are still unaware of their availability.

“I didn’t hear about it at all, but I would definitely consider doing it,” freshman Molly McGregor said.

Many other students responded similarly, despite their unfamiliarity with e-books.

“I would consider [using e-books]. It would be easier to carry around my laptop than to carry around a bunch of textbooks,” junior Will Padover said. Padover also noted the price difference as a major benefit.

Sophomore Allison Gorman said she would consider using e-books for environmental reasons.

“I think it’s good because it’s not a waste of paper,” Gorman said. “I prefer a physical textbook, but for some people it might be a good option.”

Textbooks offered at the bookstore in this new format include “Principles of Modern Chemistry,” “Psychology,” “Financial Accounting” and “Human Genetics.” Currently, there are a total of 21 books available electronically.

“It’s just getting going. We want to get students aware and interested in trying this out,” Hinds said. “We feel really good about the number of students trying it out.”

The e-books can be found online at cafescribe.com. To access the material, students must first buy an access code at the bookstore.

Other universities that are trying out e-books include Cornell and Georgetown universities and the University of Miami.

Additionally, Follett recently started a book rental program at several other universities. So far, the program has been successful on those campuses.

It remains to be seen whether the rental program will make its way to the University’s bookstore.

“I would do the online thing first, but if they didn’t have that, I’d do the rental,” Padover said.

Students can learn more about the rental program at the RentAText page on Facebook.