Library

Students spend an average of $400 each semester on textbooks and greatly appreciate the Library's Textbooks on Reserve Collection. Imagine the financial impact on students that already pay approximately $25,000 per year to attend Cal Poly Humboldt. During Fall Semester 2022, students checked out 347 unique textbooks over 2200 times, With an average textbook cost of $120, this collection cost the library roughly $40,000 to purchase, but allowed students to save nearly $270,000. A recent national survey indicated that 65% of students are not purchasing a textbook because it was too expensive, and 90% worried that doing so would hurt their grade. To help our students meet the need to afford a college education, the library purchases expensive textbooks for course reserve checkout. This provides students free, short-term access to their textbooks in the library, so many students benefit from the same shared textbook. Your donation can make a crucial difference in the lives of Humboldt students. You can also designate a nameplate inside the textbook that honors your donation or someone that made a difference in your life.

Video on impact of Textbooks on Reserve for Cal Poly Humboldt students.

We believe in the power of an education to transform lives. Cal Poly Humboldt students should be able to focus on their studies, not on whether they can afford textbooks for their classes. Your donation is a lasting, positive impact that creates a lifeline of support to help students successfully complete their studies, achieve graduation, and, in turn, contribute to the world. Any donation amount will make a difference. If you are interested in creating an endowed fund for Textbooks on Reserve, please contact Cyril Oberlander, Library Dean.