Our Crowdfunding Groups
Textbooks cost students hundreds of dollars each semester. Depending on a student's major, he or she may pay as much as $100, $300, $700, sometimes even $1,000 for required textbooks.
"When your textbook costs could pay your rent," lamented a senior recently, "you know this is an important issue."
Sometimes students purchase textbooks only to discover later the books are little-used in class. Or that they have no value beyond the current semester.
Burdened by rising costs, students are pushing back. Organizations such as the Student Government Association, MarylandPIRG, and the University Libraries Student Advisory Group are working hard to raise awareness and to find long-term solutions.
One initiative, for example, encourages instructors to use open-access texts. This option bypasses for-profit publishers and makes textbooks freely available online.
Another approach--straightforward and effective--is to make copies of the textbooks available for checkout at McKeldin Library.
Encouraged by student leaders, librarians at the University Libraries did exactly that. In 2015, librarians used gift funds to acquire textbooks for the top 50 courses at UMD. Students can check out the books for four hours at a time--long enough to read a chapter or two, take notes or review for a test, and then free up the book for a classmate to do the same. The textbooks cover a broad range of subjects and majors. Students love it.
Your support will provide essential funds to help expand the program to reach more students. By making a gift, you will build on the program's success: the University Libraries will be able to purchase additional books to meet demand, expand the list of courses, or target high-cost disciplines such as the sciences.
Be part of the solution. Help students succeed. Make your gift now.
The Friends of the UMD Libraries have pledged to match every gift of $5 or higher, up to a total of $10,000. Your gift will be doubled with this generous match. Your impact will be twice as much.
Gifts in support of the University of Maryland are accepted and managed by the University of Maryland College Park Foundation, Inc., an affiliated 501(c)(3) organization authorized by the Board of Regents. Contributions to the University of Maryland are tax deductible as allowed by law. Please see your tax advisor for details.
Combined with others, your gift will allow us to acquire a highly desired textbook.
Combined with others, your gift will allow us to expand this popular program.
A gift of $50 will allow us to purchase a textbook in a more affordable discipline. Donors at this level will receive a library pen.
A gift of $100 will allow us to purchase a textbook that will be used by hundreds of students. Donors at this level will receive a mini 3D-printed Testudo.
A gift of $250 will allow us to purchase two textbooks that will be used by hundreds of students. Donors at this level will receive a Friends of the Libraries tote bag. The fair market value of this perk is $10.
A gift of $500 will allow us to purchase five textbooks that will be used by hundreds of students. Donors at this level will receive a Friends of the Libraries tote bag and will be recognized on the Libraries website. The fair market value of this perk is $10.
A gift of $1000 will allow us to purchase ten textbooks that will be used by hundreds of students. Donors at this level will receive a luncheon with members of our student advisory group for themselves and up to five guests, as well as a Friends of the Libraries tote bag. Donors will also be recognized on the Libraries website. The fair market value of this perk is $30.