Saving Students Money
Money Saving Used Books
MBS Direct has the largest inventory of used books in the nation–all housed in our on-site warehouse in Columbia, Missouri. MBS Direct is a division of MBS Textbook Exchange, Inc., the largest used textbook wholesaler in the nation. Our combined inventories create a library of over 7 million volumes, the majority of which are used, all of which are available to MBS Direct's partner institutions and their students.
More Money During Buyback
At MBS, we take pride in our ability to offer students top dollar for course materials during buyback! Returning students will earn even more money through our Loyalty Rewards Program. Additionally, our institutions maintain the option of providing students with a convenient, online buyback option. The convenience in buyback is important to students because it puts more money saving used books into circulation for future academic terms, and it also returns a portion of a student's investment in their course materials. Buyback services are provided by MBS Service Company (MBS).
Guaranteed Buyback Program
Know the True Cost of Owning Textbooks
On top-selling textbook titles, MBS's Guaranteed Buyback program will list the associated buyback value at the time students are purchasing textbooks and course materials through your Virtual Bookstore. Students may budget for the entire academic term or school year, and instead of guessing how much money they will recoup for their initial textbook investment, MBS will guarantee an exact amount at the time of purchase. Students will now know the true cost of owning textbooks!
Lowering The Cost Of Textbooks
Price and specifically the net cost of owning a textbook will decrease with MBS's Guaranteed Buyback program because our Customer Loyalty bonus is already included with the buyback value. Best yet, nothing is required of you or your students to participate in MBS's Guaranteed Buyback program.
MBS Direct's Customer Loyalty program follows this simple formula:
Purchase textbooks from MBS Direct + Sell back textbooks to MBS = Get a higher buyback amount!
Using Guaranteed Buyback As A Budgeting Tool
Understanding how much a textbook will truly cost throughout an academic term or school year is an invaluable resource. Students can take a look at their finances to see how textbooks fit into the equation. Best yet, if a buyback value increases throughout the duration of the academic term, we will pay the higher amount. The Guaranteed Buyback price is the absolute minimum we'll pay!
The Future Of Education: eContent
In today's ever-changing educational landscape, students are demanding more interactive and progressive textbook options. In addition, they are demanding cheaper and more portable textbook options. This is why MBS Direct provides its partner institutions with one of the most expansive eContent libraries in the nation. With eContent from MBS Direct, our partner institutions provide their students with the latest technology, and the eContent readers are absolutely free.
Students will see any available eContent within the Virtual Bookstore next to the print version of the same title—allowing students to compare prices. This allows students to view a direct price comparison. In addition to providing the latest learning technology at a cheaper price, eContent curtails the risk of backorder or out-of-stock situations.
What Students Enjoy About eContent
In today's ever-changing educational landscape, students are demanding more interactive and progressive textbook options. In addition, portability has become an issue among students of all ages. This is why MBS Direct provides its partner institutions with one of the most expansive eContent libraries in the nation, including eBooks, eChapters, eProducts, and eCourse Packs. With eContent from MBS Direct, you get the latest technology with no additional expense.
Within your Virtual Bookstore, students will view the eContent version next to the print version when the eContent title is available, allowing for a direct price comparison. In addition to providing the latest learning technology at a competitive price, eContent curtails the risk of backorder or out-of-print situations ensuring students get their content quickly.
eBooks
More than just reading text on a computer screen, students can interact with the text through our eBooks. With functionality such as keyword searching, highlighting, read-aloud capabilities, and note-taking options, today's tech-savvy students will be able to learn in new ways.
As the nation's leading educational eBooks program, MBS Direct has agreements with major publishers to continually add new content. As our eBook library continues to grow, your students will have access to more of the top titles.
Student Benefits:
- Price comparisons within the Virtual Bookstore
- Interactive study features
- Laptop portability of books
- Immediate access to course materials
- Free reader software and support
School Benefits:
- Cutting-edge learning technology with no additional expense
- Expands ability for faculty to utilize eContent in the classroom
- Reduces cost of printing custom materials
- Reduces risk of backorder or out-of-print situations
eChapters
With MBS Direct's eChapters, students receive their first weeks' readings immediately after they order select new or used books. This enables transfer or late-enrolling students to keep up with course assignments until their textbooks arrive, eliminating the cost of rush delivery. These eChapters are similar to an eBook, however just cover the first few chapters so that a student doesn't fall behind.
eProducts
A wide variety of study aids and supplemental materials, including Pearson MyLabs, Wiley PLUS, and test assessment packages are available as electronic learning materials. Much like our eBooks, these electronic learning materials can be handy helpers for students needing assistance in class. These electronic eProducts can be sold as optional products within your Virtual Bookstore.
eCourse Packs
Faculty put a lot of work into their courses and MBS Direct makes it easy for them to deliver their hard work to every student. Customized materials such as syllabi, lecture notes, and copyrighted materials can be created as an eCourse Pack (similar to an eBook) and delivered to your students when they order textbooks.
As the catalyst for “e” innovation, MBS Direct is continually working to expand eContent titles. We are leading the way in the digital market and have the capability to bring your school the latest in learning technology.
Our Program
MBS Direct currently offers approximately 165,000 titles, including about 10,000 textbook titles and 155,000 trade titles*, through our expansive eBooks program. Our library of titles is constantly growing and has helped position MBS Direct as the leader in digital content availability, offering eContent from 14 different publishers.
*Figures are as of March 1, 2009.
Xplana
Xplana, MBS Direct's latest innovative solution, is a Web-based application and eBook reader that enables your institution to provide students the resources they need to successfully achieve learning objectives. It also equips faculty with versatile instruction tools and content management features for customizing and enhancing digital content. Most importantly, Xplana offers a refreshed learning experience and increased student success rates.
While it is robust enough to serve as your institution's primary learning management system, Xplana's modular design allows you to integrate it into your existing platform by selecting whatever value-added components meet your institution's unique needs.
For more information on how Xplana can keep your academic programs as progressive as possible, visit www.xplana.com.
StudyTactics: Affordable Ancillary Materials
Our partner institutions can offer the latest and best learning materials to help students get the most out of their education. Through innovative products like Encyclopaedia Britannica and Questia, students learn by interacting with subjects, not merely reading them in a text. In addition, MBS Direct owns and operates a Web site, StudyTactics.com, which provides students with all things ancillary. From study charts, to flash cards, students find credible, affordable help with our ancillary materials.