Using Course Works, finding textbooks and course readings

Starting in Fall 2024, the University is providing textbooks in a new way. The old way (before Fall 2024) was that professors would give the Bookstore a list of textbooks. The Bookstore would buy copies of the books. Students could go to the bookstore (in person or website) to buy (or sometimes "rent") the textbooks. Students could also buy them from other websites (e.g. Amazon, etc.), find copies through the University Libraries, request them from Interlibrary Loan, or get them in other ways (or sometimes not to buy them). 

NEW IN FALL 2024

ALL Undergraduate students will be automatically enrolled in a program called Course Works COMPLETE. In theory, this program will provide ALL of the textbooks and required course readings (including coursepacks and homework access) for ALL the courses a student is taking for a fee of $279 for fall semester (this will be added to your student account). This fee does NOT include items like lab supplies like goggles, art supplies, calculators, etc. 

How can a student opt-out?

Students can opt-out of this program. In August, students will be able to view the cost of individual textbooks and make a decision if they want to opt out (e.g. if a student has few or no textbooks OR if the total cost of their books is less than $279 and they want to buy them individually). If you want to opt-out you can do it in the "Course Works tab" in Canvas by the deadline -- September 16. 

Please note: There is a *NEW* Course Works tab in Canvas. 

ALL Undergraduate students will be automatically enrolled in Course Works COMPLETE. To get access to your textbooks and readings, use the Course Works tab in Canvas (will available in mid-August 2024) or in your individual Canvas course pages. The majority of textbooks are going to be digital or ebooks. You can access required digital content/textbooks for any course through Canvas Course Works tab or your individual Course page. 

What about print textbooks?
If a course requires print materials they will be provided at the campus store. If a student simply prefers print materials, they will be available for an additional nominal cost. Students will receive a message in their umn.edu email when their materials are ready for pick up.

Disability accommodation
If you need the reading in a different format due to an accommodation or if you have questions about accessibility and using digital content, please contact the Disability Resource Center.

If you have opted-out of the the Course Works COMPLETE program -- you can still buy individual textbooks through Course Works Select using the Course Works tab in Canvas OR you can buy the textbook in other ways (e.g. Amazon, etc.) OR you can work with Libraries to request materials in other ways. The Libraries are working closely with the Bookstores to automatically identify textbooks that can be made available for free through the Libraries. These textbooks will also appear on your Course Works tab in Canvas and they will be marked as "Library." Regardless of whether you use Course Works Complete or Select, or opt-out completely, library course materials will always be available for you to access for free.

Here are some steps to help: 

Step 1: Check your Canvas, your syllabus and with your instructor about exactly what textbooks and readings you might need. 

Step 2: Figure out how you want to get them -- e.g. buy a textbook via Course Works, buy a textbook from another website (e.g. Amazon) or borrow a textbook from the UMN Libraries.

Step 3: If you want to try to get them from the UMN Libraries -- go to lib.umn.edu and type in the name of the textbook in Libraries Search (If needed, check the UMN bookstore or Canvas or your syllabus to get the exact title, authors and edition). This searches all of our on campus libraries and other UMN libraries like Duluth or Morris. Check the “edition” if needed and start reading!

If we don’t have it as an ebook, we might have an print copy. If these options don’t work, you can request the book from a service called Interlibrary Loan. Fill out the online form and we will work to get it from another library.

If you have trouble reading a textbook or getting access to a textbook or reading -- talk to your instructor or reach out to courseworks@umn.edu.

If there are required materials listed in your syllabus that you don’t see on your Course Works Shelf in Canvas, please let us know and we’ll work to get them added ASAP (once verified). Email a screenshot or copy of your syllabus showing the materials to courseworks@umn.edu.

If you have questions about accessibility and using digital content or need accommodation, please contact the Disability Resource Center.

Graduate and Professional students are NOT part of the Course Works Complete program. Graduate and Professional students CAN buy individual titles in Course Works tab in Canvas if they choose. Or they can buy from the Bookstore or other online websites (e.g. Amazon) or work to get through the UMN Libraries as in the past. View the list of ebook textbooks available from the UMN Libraries.