For the last three years, Hamline students have had a unique alternative to traditional book rental systems. After much discussion and deliberation, includED (formerly BookSmart) has been re-upped for its fourth year, starting Fall 2016.

includED was created four years ago as a new kind of book rental program, ideally saving students money. Students pay a flat fee each semester ($240) in exchange for the textbooks they need. J-Term class books are included through the program.

The bookstore is now owned by the Follett Higher Education Group, who changed the name of the rental program to includED. In addition to the different name, Follett made some structural changes. Hamline Bookstore Manager Melanie Farley commented on some benefits of the new rental program.

“Follett brings an improved process for tracking and returning rental book orders. On the bookstore end, we now receive daily updates on campus registration, including late enrollments and dropped classes,” said Farley. “For students, they will now receive automated emails when items are processed, and they’ll also have more affordable options for converting the rental to a purchase if they choose to do so.”

The decision to extend the program for another year has been in the works for some time, and students seem to be pleased with the decision. Nearly 93% of students surveyed felt favorably about continuing the program, according to the Hamline Bookstore.

Some students who would prefer to purchase their textbooks have shown frustration that the program revolves mainly around rental, but Farley explains how the program can benefit those students as well.

“Any item in the includED rental program can be purchased at a steep discount before the rental is due to be returned,” she said. “Students have found these convert to purchase prices to be even more affordable than they were last year, sometimes saving up to 80% off the retail price of the book.”

Some other issues have been mentioned as well. For example, if a student is taking four classes in one semester, but they only need books in two of their classes, they wouldn’t want to pay the full $240 fee. In an interview, Dean Alan Sickbert addressed this issue and what changes might be made in the future to assure that all students, regardless of course load, will be treated fairly and benefit from the program.

“We have an appeals program if people feel that there’s an exception to why they should not have to pay,” he said. “This case would be an acceptable appeal. We’ve integrated an appeal process in the last year but we’re also doing a study to see, if there are real differences, does that push us to look at a different type of system.”

According to a Hamline Bookstore survey done in the Fall of 2015, over 94% of students who responded prefer the expansion of the includED program and want it to continue. Arguing for the viability and financial benefits of the program, Sickbert said, “I feel like this is one of the very few programs on campus that actually saves students money.”