Student develops web site to simplify textbook purchases

Book.ly is a web site created by a Wharton and Engineering senior and his brother. It allows students to compare textbook prices among online merchants.

Thanks to Book.ly, purchasing textbooks for classes just got a little easier.

There are over 500 universities listed on Book.ly — a site created in the fall of 2008 by Wharton and Engineering graduate Roman Pedan with his brother Igor.

The site allows students to compare prices for their current semester’s books among online merchants, including Amazon and Biblio.

Books are listed in order of cost, saving students time, as they no longer have to look for the best price themselves.

Roman said he began the site because he was tired of paying hundreds of dollars a semester for textbooks, yet found online shopping time consuming and slow.

“If there was something [like Book.ly] available, I would’ve been able to save, and other students too,” he said about the conception of the site.

When the site first launched, Roman said, he and his brother were contacting universities and entering prices and products book by book. Now, students reach out to them directly and request that their university be included.

A little over a year later, the site claims to be able to save students up to 40 percent on their textbooks.

Not only can students now save themselves the effort required to search online marketplaces and get their books at lower prices, they can also do some good with their purchase.

Roman explains the plan to include an increasing number of universities while getting the word out about the site.

Each school involved could partner one of its student groups with Book.ly, he said, adding that the school’s student government often acts as the liaison.

In return for providing syllabi and informing their students of the site, the partner organization receives 20 percent of the profits made from its university’s purchases to be donated to its charity of choice, Roman explained.

This way, the more students the group encourages to use Book.ly, the more funds the groups receives.

Since it is a new site, Roman hopes local campus organizations will take this option into consideration.

When asked about how freshmen in particular purchase their books, College freshman Akin Sobowale, who hadn’t heard about Book.ly, explained why students often buy at their school bookstore.

“People want a textbook as soon as possible, which is why they’ll pay the higher prices,” he said.

While cheaper deals can be found, Sobowale believes the inconvenience of scouring the internet outweighs the price advantage.

After hearing about Book.ly, Sobowale was pleased to find a cheaper way of obtaining textbooks without the hassle.

On the site, it only takes a few seconds to find and compare textbooks, Roman said. If students encounter problems, they can also refer to the help page, which has the site creators’ contact information.

College sophomore Julianne Mele always purchased her books at a bookstore, yet this semester, she tried Book.ly.

“I was surprised by its convenience and accessibility,” she said.

Comments (30)

I think this is a great idea. When I was at college buying textbooks was very complicated. I think these students are doing something that needs to be recognized.

Thanks Cody Marks Expert

These kids are genius! They found a problem in the institution that was supposed to be teaching them and made it better. That is so cool.

Janice Mildred Expert

What smart kids we have in today's society. I am really amazed with the computer knowledge that this kids have.

It have a website that is completely run by a teenager. Its quite amazing.

I am truly amazed at the intelligence of these students. I am a big fan of hard work and new ideas. Who knows the founder of the next microsoft might have done this.

Thanks Carli Marks Expert

This is so neat and creative its amazing. I admire these kids for their hard work and effort. Why wouldnt you praise them??

Thanks Elena Caners Treatment

Thanks for these informations . wonderful article . You showed a nice side of students . They should work more on it .

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This is really great that the students are working to help the school become better and in turn helping themselves.

Thanks Kaley manager

In fact everyone want to read a lot in very less time this is possible only on web while reading in text-book you have to take more and more time to read but on Web we can find more example in less time which suite/Fulfill your need too.

I really wanna start a new website for me. This helps me a lot for saying the more students the group encourages to use Book.ly, the more funds the groups receives. I had received a quality share. Thanks,

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While organizations across campus are busy trying to attract students to their events with free food, freshman Stan Rosenthal launched a Web.

This is really nice. I was looking forward for it.

You are write everyone want to make short note in less time so it is important to make it manageable.

I keep waiting for one of these distressed, failing newspapers to realize that it has nothing to lose and get a little crazy and create something brand new and brilliant for readers and advertisers.

Textbook has been a major problem, first it cost so much for student, second it keep changing every semester now and then. Why can't university and publisher bought back the old textbook and give cash back to student. This is a good approach and I don't think hard to achieve.

Hope someone will listen.

Just want to say : thanks a lot. Excellent post.

It's nice to see that the most useful and popular websites are developped by students. They bring new ideas and definitely have a lot of creativity. Facebook is another great example.

Why can't university and publisher bought back the old textbook and give cash back to student. This is a good approach and I don't think hard to achieve.

It would take a to figure out all the different books one must purchase over the course of a college career. This will certainly help students make their lives more simple.

I think this is a very good initiative, too bad we didn't have anything like that a few years ago when I was still there. They can easily save several hundred dollars With the prices on books these days. Just wish more schools will look forward in this systems like this. |

This is a very interesting article! I am a lecturer and submit it for consideration for the students.

Thank you for review!

Firstly textbook cost so much for student, second it keep changing every semester now and then. Why can't university and publisher bought back the old textbook and give cash back to student. This is a good approach and I don't think hard to achieve.

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