Madison, Wisconsin boasts one of the Midwest’s largest college campuses and student populations, so it’s no surprise that the college textbook frenzy starts early. Even though college textbooks can be purchased online, most students head to a few key destinations around the city of Madison to round up the latest readings. Madison students can be found at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Edgewood College, and Madison Area Technical College. There are also a variety of smaller campuses and technical colleges in the area. From classic textbooks to professor-recommended reading packets, here’s where to go when you need to buy college textbooks in Madison, Wisconsin:
The first stop is usually the University Book Store in downtown Madison, located at 711 State Street. The store has been serving the UW-Madison campus since 1894, and the basement is converted to a textbook-only department during school seasons. You can now search and order textbooks online, and the textbooks section offers both new and used books. A trip here at least two weeks before classes start is your best option; the staff knows exactly where everything is, and can give you updated information on professor requirements. The store is open seven days per week, and you can find parking at the Lake Street ramp.
Another popular place is the Underground Textbook Exchange; this opened less than a block away from the University Book Store to offer a low-key and competitively priced alternative to the UW-Madison campus outlets. The store offers most textbooks for purchase year round, along with school supplies, books, and other student merchandise. You can also pick up an official Underground Textbooks Discount card here, giving you a few dollars off cover charges at local clubs, menu discounts at area restaurants, and cheap per-page charges on photocopies. The store also buys textbooks year round, so it’s a good drop off spot at the end of your semester. The Underground Textbook Exchange is located at 664 State Street in Madison, but you can also call ahead to see if your college textbook is in stock: (608) 251-4444.
If you’re looking for older textbooks, novels, supplementary reading, or magazines, the best place to find these is at Half Price Books. There are two locations in Madison, one on the East and West side, and both are stocked with a wide range of outdated textbooks if you aren’t required to buy the most recent version. These stores also offer student-only sales throughout the year, offering an additional 20% off all used prices. They’re a good place to pick up books that you may need as a supplement to your courses-or just grow your own personal library. Half Price Books is located at 626 S. Whitney Way on Madison’s west side; call (608) 273-2240 for more information.
Many Madison students make use of online textbook stores and exchanges as well. CampusBooks.com is a great place to buy an dsell used textbooks, and offers an easy search feature to locate books by ISBN number. The site reports an average saving of 61% per student, and it’s a great last resort if you have trouble finding a book in person.
With the back to school frenzy in full swing, Madison, Wisconsin offers plenty of opportunities to round up the latest requirements in textbooks. As a last resort, online book exchange programs are offered on campus; many students drop classes within the first couple of weeks, so it’s easier to pick up their old textbooks by checking bulletin boards and other student classifieds sections.
