Textbooks

The Libraries purchases materials which support the teaching and research interests of the University of Manitoba.  The Libraries’ collection is intended to provide research materials and other resources which supplement the learning experience taking place in the classroom.  Therefore, the Libraries does not generally purchase or otherwise provide access to copies of textbooks that students are expected to purchase for use in a particular course. 

A textbook is defined as “An edition of a book specifically intended for use of students who are enrolled in a course of study or preparing for an examination on a subject or in an academic discipline…sometimes published in conjunction with a workbook, lab manual, and/or teacher’s manual.” ODLIS Online Dictionary for Library and Information science by Joan M. Reitz, ABC/CLIO https://odlis.abc-clio.com/ (Last updated 2024.10.30).

Not all texts used for instructional purposes are textbooks.  Many scholarly monographs lend themselves to classroom use but they are not considered textbooks.

There are a number of reasons the Libraries does not purchase textbooks:

• One copy will generally not suffice for an entire class and buying multiple copies for all classes that need them is prohibitively expensive.  As course requirements and textbook editions change frequently, updating the collection would also be challenging and taxing on staff time and the acquisitions budget.
• The Libraries has traditionally been resourced to purchase material for research and to supplement that used in the classroom, not basic curriculum material.  Purchase of textbooks would fall outside of the library’s traditional mission and beyond our current level of funding.
• Space considerations make it impractical to maintain collections of physical textbooks, and most textbook publishers either do not have electronic versions of their textbooks or they are unwilling to sell them to libraries, as their business model relies on selling direct to students.

Exceptions will be considered on an individual basis, and may include:

• A faculty member may provide a copy of a textbook to be put on reserve for the duration of a course.  This will not normally lead to the book being added to the Libraries’ regular collection
• A liaison librarian may determine that a textbook significantly supports teaching/research interest of the University and decide to purchase a copy.

If you have any questions, contact the Associate University Librarian, Collections.