Gator Book Pack

The Gator Book Pack is our affordable textbook rental access program that provides students with all required rental textbooks, lab manuals, access codes, and electronic book versions before the first day of class!

This pack allows students to receive their textbooks for all of the classes that they register for at a standard rate of $24 per semester credit hour. However, a Gator Book Pack scholarship will decrease the standard rate to only $14 per semester credit hour! For example, if a student is registered for 10 semester credit hours, the cost of textbooks is $140. The cost can be paid by financial aid or by the student. If a student enrolls in a payment plan, this charge will be included in the payment plan calculations. Supplies are not included in this program and will need to be purchased separately.

Students are automatically enrolled in the Gator Book Pack at the time of registration and will begin receiving emails about selecting their preferred delivery method of their Gator Book Pack.

Questions about the Gator Book Pack? Email us at: GatorBookPack@lsco.edu.

OPTING OUT:
Upcoming Opt-Out periods are as follows:

Spring 2024 8 Week 2 - 2/19/24 - 3/20/24

Students may opt-opt or opt back in as many times as desired during the opt-out period and through the same opt-out link. No adjustments will be made to the Gator Book Pack charges on your account until after the final opt-out date.

Students will be able to find the opt-out link on the LSCO Gator Book Pack landing page (below) during the ‘opt-out’ period prior to the beginning of the term or semester. Students who opt-out will be responsible for purchasing all required course materials on their own. In classes with digital materials, if students have opted out of the Gator Book Pack, they will often have access to the digital material for a short-term period, for example, two weeks. After that free trial ends, students who have opted out will lose access. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student who opts out to purchase access to that digital material for their use after the free access period ends.

The Opt-Out Period for Spring 2024 8 week 2 is now OPEN: https://www2.lsco.edu/gbp.html

SELECTING DELIVERY METHOD:
Within 30 days of the first-class day, students will receive an email through their LSCO email account directing them to verify their classes, provide an address to have their rental books shipped to them, or select the option to pick up their Gator Book Pack at the Barnes & Noble Campus Bookstore on the Lamar University campus in Beaumont. A student can also verify their classes and provide the shipping information by logging into MyGator and clicking on the Gator Book pack card (Step 2).

Watch this video to learn how to select your delivery method.

RETURNING OR BUYING BOOKS AT END OF SEMESTER:

Students have several return options.

Wait until the end of the semester when Barnes & Noble (B&N) will be on our campus to accept textbook returns in-person.

For the Spring 2024 Semester, Barnes & Noble will be on campus at the end of the term for book return and graduation regalia purchases.
- Barnes & Noble Semester Book Return
  Student Center Gym
  Tuesday, 5/7 - 10am-2pm, Wednesday, 5/8 - 11am-6pm, & Thursday, 5/9 - 2pm-6pm

Bring your books back to the Barnes & Noble Bookstore on the Lamar University campus:

Students can bring their books back to the Lamar University bookstore at any time. The bookstore is located at:

4405 Jimmy Simmons Blvd.
Beaumont, TX 77705
Hours: M-Th, 8am-4pm; F, 8am-1pm

Download a UPS label from the Bookstore webpage and send your books back for free.

To download this label, you will need to pull up your order number from a previous B&N order email.
Go to the Rental Book Return webpage.
Input your original order number and email address (likely your LSCO email address), download a label, and bring it to a UPS return point (most CVSes take UPS packages for return and Mailboxes & More and All Points Shipping in Orange both accept UPS pages).

Students will be notified through their LSCO email about book return options. Students will have the option to purchase their textbook rentals through instructions that will be emailed to them from the Barnes & Noble bookstore.

LSCO VIRTUAL BOOKSTORE

The virtual bookstore will remain at this URL and will be “open” 24/7 online!:
https://lamar-orange.bncollege.com/shop/lamar-orange/home

Any questions about the LSCO Virtual Bookstore can be directed to the bookstore at Lamar University in Beaumont:
Lamar University Bookstore
4405 Jimmy Simmons Drive
Beaumont, TX 77705
Sm250@bncollege.com
409-880-8342
Hours: M-Th, 8am-4pm; Fri, 8am-1pm

How It Works

Register for Your Courses

Upon registering for courses, you will be automatically enrolled in the Gator Book Pack rental access program.

Verify Your Order

Within 30 days of the first class day, students will receive an email through their LSCO email account directing them to verify their classes, provide an address to have their rental books shipped to them, or select the option to pick up their Gator Book Pack at the Barnes and Noble Campus Bookstore on the Lamar University campus in Beaumont. A student can also verify their classes and provide the shipping information by logging into MyGator and clicking on Gator Book pack card (Step 2).

Delivery Options

Receive Your Books

Once you confirm your order, an email notification will be sent to your LSCO email account notifying you when your rental order will be ready for pick up or when it will ship. You will be required to either provide an address to ship your books to or you will be given the option to pick up your Gator Book Pack at the Barnes & Noble Campus Bookstore on the Lamar University campus in Beaumont. Your email and order number will provide guidance on shipping information and pick-up details.

Your digital materials will be delivered for your course(s) within Blackboard.

FAQs

What if I never verify my order?

All students will receive emails to their LSCO email account reminding them to verify their Gator Book Pack rental order. If you do not take action to either verify your order OR opt out of the Gator Book Pack, your student account WILL still be charged for the Gator Book Pack

If I never pick up my books, will I still get charged?

Yes. If you take action to verify your order and not opt-out of the program, your student account will still be charged.

What if I drop a class?

If you drop a class, you may return the rented books to the bookstore on the same terms and timelines currently in place. If you drop a class and enroll in a different class, the bookstore will “swap” the required textbooks/codes so that you have what you need.

What if I need an accessible format due to an impairment or disability?

Students with disabilities who need textbooks in accessible formats should contact the Accessibility Coordinator at (409) 882-3393.

Will I be able to pick up my Gator Book Pack order at the LSCO Campus Bookstore?

No. The campus bookstore will be transitioning to a virtual store in the summer of 2021.

Can I opt out if I picked up my textbooks?

Yes, you will have 48 hours after pick up to return your rented textbooks to the Barnes & Noble Campus Bookstore on the Lamar Campus in Beaumont. If you do not return the rented textbooks, the charges for the bundle will go back onto your student account.

What do I do if I have not received my textbooks?

Orders cannot be processed until you take action on the email you receive via your LSCO email account and verify your order. If you have already verified your order, call (409) 880-8342 or email bkslamarorange@bncollege.com the bookstore or and give them your order number so they can check on the status of your order.

What do I do if I am missing a textbook or received the wrong one?

If you receive an incomplete order or one that contains the wrong rented materials, send a copy of the syllabus to bkslamarorange@bncollege.com. In your email, make sure to include important information like course name, section number, the instructor’s name, your R800 number, and your contact information.

Why is LSCO doing this?

Gator Book Pack is an institution-wide response to support the increasing number of students who lack access to required course material due to cost. This new program will save the average student $150-200 a semester on books and will provide them by the first day of class.

How does this benefit students?

The Gator Book Pack makes getting rental textbooks easier on students, which will ultimately improve their success at LSCO. Not only will students have the chance to receive their rentals by the first day of class, but they will save an estimated $150-200 on textbooks a semester by using the Gator Book Pack.

How much will this cost?

The Gator Book Pack will cost $15 per semester credit hour or $300 for a 12 semester credit hour course load. Previously, LSCO recommended for students to budget $500 for books and supplies each semester.

Do I pay LSCO or the bookstore?

The Gator Book Pack rental access charge will be included on your LSCO student account along with other charges such as tuition and fees. By being included on your student account, you may use Financial Aid, scholarships, etc., to pay for your required rental course materials and textbooks. If you add extra merchandise upon verifying your order, you will pay the bookstore with a debit or credit card.

Can I choose to participate for some classes but not others?

The Gator Book Pack rental access program is designed to be an all-in or all-out solution to bring affordability to campus.

What if I don’t want to participate and I want to buy my textbooks somewhere else?

During the designated opt-out period (approximately one week before the beginning of the semester), you will have the ability to opt-out of the rental access program through the Gator Book Pack website.

How can I get information about the books I need so I can make an informed decision to participate or opt out?

The LSCO bookstore website will continue to provide all the details surrounding books needed for classes.

Who do I contact with questions?

For Gator Book Pack rental access program questions, please contact the bookstore by emailing bkslamarorange@bncollege.com or calling (409) 880-8342. For specific questions related to your order, please contact the bookstore by calling (409) 880-8342.

If I choose not to participate, how do I opt out?

During the designated opt-out period (approximately one week before the beginning of the semester), you will have the ability to opt-out through the opt-out link on this website.

If I add or drop classes, can I change my decision about participating or opting-out?

Yes, you can change your decision until the 2nd class day. Keep in mind you will need to return your rented textbooks within 48 hours of receipt if you have already received them prior to opting out.

What is the deadline for opting-out?

You can opt out and opt back in until the 2nd class day.

If I drop classes, will I receive a refund?

The Gator Book Pack rental access program will be handled in the same fashion as refunds are for other tuition and fees.

Is it possible for me to keep a textbook at the end of the semester? If so, how much will it cost to keep a textbook?

Yes! You will be offered an option to buy the textbook at the end of the semester. You will receive an email through your LSCO account with instructions about purchasing the rented textbook. The rental buyout price is a discounted price based upon the market value of that unique material.

How do I pay for textbooks I want to keep?

You will need to work directly with the bookstore at the end of the semester and submit your payment to the bookstore. Charges for purchasing a book are not transferred to or processed through your LSCO student account.

Can I highlight and write in the textbooks I get?

Yes!

What happens if my book is damaged, destroyed or lost?

We know things happen! If your book is damaged, destroyed, or lost during the semester, please email bkslamarorange@bncollege.com and they will work it out on a case-by-case basis.

Will I be able to choose between physical and electronic copies of my textbook and required materials?

Your rented textbooks and materials will be provided in the format requested by the faculty.

What are the privacy rules?

Barnes and Noble is committed to protecting all personal information and takes the utmost precautions to secure and store data for all students.

How will my personal information be used?

The data provided to the bookstore is only used to help us deliver all your rented course materials based upon your selected delivery preference.

Can the bookstore sell my personal information to third parties?

No. Barnes and Noble is committed to the safeguarding of all of your personal information and will not sell personal information to third parties.

Why is LSCO partnering with Barnes and Noble?

LSCO and Barnes and Noble are both focused on delivering affordable course materials options to our students. The Gator Book Pack is a full-service course material program that delivers a highly personalized experience for students, retains faculty choice of course materials, and delivers deep savings to students. Barnes & Noble is also our contracted bookstore provider with whom we coordinate all things textbook-related.

If any of my classes use an Open Education Resource (OER) or don’t require a textbook, do I still have to pay the fee?

With the Gator Book Pack rental access program, you will pay for the total number of credits taken a semester, not by the number of courses using the program. You have to either fully opt-in or opt-out for all classes in your semester. The fee is determined by the total number of semester credit hours you enroll in regardless of whether or not any of the courses use OERs or don’t require textbooks.

I have a question about the Gator Book Pack fee in my student account, who should I contact?

All questions associated with your student account, including those related to the Gator Book Pack, can be directed to the LSCO Cashier Desk at (409) 882-3371. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. Summer hours of operation are Monday-Thursday, 8am-5:30 pm and Friday 8am-noon.

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