Bargain books

Adèle de Fontbrune

Managing a student budget in London is a challenge. As a first year, I’d spend most of my money by the 10th of the month on drinks and late night kebabs. Now, I like to think I know better and spend more wisely. But I have to admit that one of my ongoing frustrations is the amount of money I spend on books. Amazon has become a mandatory stop for me, with its fully priced paperbacks and shipping costs. Indeed, the Maughan library is undeniably beautiful, but with 3 copies of a specific course textbook for 100+ students, it is also a place of struggle and frustration. It turns kind students into calculators who check out books on specific essay topics months before they are due, and maniacally renew their loans monthly until exams are over. Of course, there is always Senate House or LSE (the horror!) but it’s a bit of a hassle.

So I decided to do something about it by getting involved with a not-for-profit organisation called BookAdopter. It allows students to buy & sell their books locally. There is no need to register and so it’s very quick and hassle-free. It is already running successfully in Edinburgh where it was set up. Usually I am not the biggest supporter of start ups, but I completely approve this student-generated, environmentally friendly way to acquire our books. I urge every KCL student reading this to list their books. The main appeal? It could be a significant relief for our wallets.