Course Material FAQ

Find answers to common questions about ordering textbooks and course materials, shipping and pickup options, payment methods, student account charges, and textbook availability at the CSB + SJU Bookstore.

How do I know what textbooks I need for class?

Grab your class schedule and go to our BUY TEXTBOOKS page and follow the instructions on that page to select your courses and see book list.

Is there a place on campus where I can go to purchase books?

CSB + SJU Bookstore is online only. There is no physical store you can purchase your materials in.

How do I decide which type of textbook to order?

There are several options, so know what you need! Not all options are available for each title.

New Textbook —Some books are only available in new condition because they contain access codes, they are newly published, or lack of used book supply.
Used Textbook —Save on previously owned books. This option is not available for all titles.
Rental —Pay a fee to use a textbook for the semester and return it in good condition to the Bookstore by the due date. See our Textbook Rental page for more information.
E-Book —Textbooks available in digital format. If an e-book is available, you can choose the e-book or the print version. You don’t need both.
Direct Access —Visit our Direct Access page for more information.

How do I access the eBook I ordered?

You will access most eBooks from an email you received shortly after you placed the order. Search your email for PrismRBS to find it. Follow the instructions on this email to access your eBook. Our trusted eBook partner is VitalSource.

What does it mean if the book says Direct Access?

See our Direct Access page for more information on this program.

Why can’t I add this book to my cart?

If you can’t add a book to your cart, it’s because this book is not in stock. It will be available to order when it’s in stock. Please continue to check the website to order it.

Can I charge books and supplies to my tuition account?

You can charge textbooks and supplies to your tuition account through September 10 for fall semester and February 10 for spring semester.

Can you ship my order?

Yes, we can ship orders in continental United States. Shipping charges are not eligible for refund.

Where do I pick up my order?

You can choose to pick up your order at the Circulation Desk in Clemens Library or Alcuin Library.

What do I need to bring to pick up my order?

You need your Order Confirmation Number and Student ID to pick up your order.

How do I know when my order is ready to be picked up?

Immediately after placing your order, you will receive an Order Confirmation email. This confirms we received your order.

You will receive an email with the subject: “Your Order Has Been Processed” when your order has been pulled and payment completed.

For Pick-Up in Alcuin orders, your order will be available for pick up 1 hour after you receive email saying your order has been processed.

For Pick-Up at Clemens orders, your order will be available for pick up the next day after you receive email saying your order has been processed.

Processing time: Online orders received after 2:00 p.m. are typically processed the next business day. Processing times may vary depending on inventory availability and peak periods during the semester.

Orders are not processed on Saturdays, Sundays, and college holiday breaks, except for the weekend before classes start. Orders received during weekends are processed on the next regular business day.

How long will you hold my order?

Orders made before classes begin will be held for 3 weeks from the start of the semester. Orders placed after classes have started will be held for 3 weeks from the purchase date.

Orders not picked up within this timeframe will be considered abandoned and re-shelved for sale.

If a book in my order is back ordered? How do I know when it’s in?

If a book you ordered is back ordered, it will be marked on your receipt. You will receive another email with the subject “Your Order Has Been Processed” when the backordered title is in. If you have multiple back ordered books, you will receive an email when each book in your order is ready to be picked up.

We order place reorders for out-of-stock books as soon as possible with rush shipping. How long it takes for the book to come in depends on several factors out of our control, such as how long it takes the publisher to ship the book, location it is being shipped from and weather or other delays that can affect shipping times.