Ventura College students who can’t afford to purchase textbooks will soon be able to use them on reserve at the campus library, thanks to a new grant from the Ventura College Foundation.

Students can now request any of their required textbooks in the library at no charge to them. The program, called “Textbook Bank,” is designed to help students combat the problems of rising costs of a college education.

“Textbook prices are outrageous and sometimes are double the cost of tuition,” said Paul Iannaccone, executive director of the Ventura College Foundation.

President Dr. Robin Calote suggested the idea of having a “Textbook Bank” in the library. The board of directors of the Ventura College Foundation approved $30,000 to fund the books for fall and spring semester. The “Textbook Bank” will include every textbook that teachers require on reserve. The student will be allowed two hours at a time for each textbook checked out. Iannaccone said if the funds permit, then a second copy of some of the books that are well used will be purchased.

“We are trying to help students the fastest way with the limited resources we have,” said Iannaccone.

The cost of textbooks are increasing everyday because of new editions being published and students having up to three required textbooks per class. Students who try to sell back their books to the bookstore sometimes get as little as 10 percent back for their books and sometimes aren’t even able to sell them because of constant new editions coming out.

Andrew Martinez, a 20-year-old Ventura College liberal arts major, is impressed with the effort that the college is making for students who struggle to pay for college.

“I have a lot of friends that can’t afford books,” said Martinez. “I’m glad they’re using the money to help students that really need it.”

Oxnard College is in the process of having a “Textbook Bank” as well, but nothing has been approved yet.

At Moorpark College, Cars 4 Causes funds a book scholarship that hands out around 10 book vouchers good for $250, and usable only in the Moorpark College Bookstore. To apply for a voucher, a student must be full-time and return to Moorpark in spring of 2006 as a full-time student, have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, and must have financial need for these books. This is a one-time only award. The deadline for applications is Nov. 10. Speak to Margaret Ramos, the Scholarship Coordinator, in A-106, across from the Health Center.

The “Textbook Bank” has not been completed yet but there are many textbooks available to students. The Ventura College Library is open Monday – Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.