Box of Books

Reduce the cost of textbooks by nearly 50%!

OCC and Barnes & Noble want to make it easier and more affordable for you to get all of your textbooks in one convenient place, at a reduced price. If you’re eligible for financial aid, you can use it towards the purchase of textbooks or you can apply for a scholarship to help cover the costs.

Student picking up Box of Books

Steps to get your Box of Books

  1. Register for Classes (if you haven't already)
  2. Reserve your Box of Books with the Bookstore (Mawhinney, Room 101) online starting 30 days before the 1st day of classes.
    • Your Username is your OCC email address
    • Your Password is your Student ID
    • No payment will be necessary at the time of securing your box of books! Textbook costs are included in your student account.
  3. Pick them up at OCC's bookstore before classes start (or have them shipped to you for free)
  4. If you have any questions call (315) 498-2263 or email boxofbooks@sunyocc.edu

 

Frequently Asked Questions

The Box of Books program simplifies the process of gathering your textbooks for each semester and does so at a substantial discount for students. 

No! Students currently pay nearly $82 per textbook, and many courses require more than one textbook.  With Box of Books, you'll only pay $63 for all of your books in a 3-credit course.

How it works

The Box of Books project allows the College’s Bookstore partner, Barnes & Noble College, to purchase materials for all courses in bulk, significantly reducing prices to students.  Students will be billed $21 per course credit ($63 per 3-credit course, $84 per 4-credit course) to their student account for required textbooks/codes. 

OER courses are exempt from the $21 per course credit fee.  All other credits in which a student is enrolled will carry the $21 fee, regardless of whether a textbook is required.  Students who do not benefit financially from this arrangement have the right to opt-out of the program and purchase their textbooks individually.

You may return the book 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.  

Barnes & Noble has a supply chain and fulfillment plan in place that should allow you to receive your books within 48 hours of registration.

Book orders will be fulfilled in the discretion of the Bookstore with a combination of new, used, rental, and digital products based on each student’s individual course selection.  Rental products must be returned at the end of the semester consistent with current policies and procedures and will be recirculated in future years that the same materials are used. Students are financially responsible for any unreturned rental products.

You can opt out of the Box of Books program. If you do decide to opt out, please be sure you’re able to obtain all the materials necessary for you to be successful in your classes.  If you want to opt back in to the program you can click here.