Students these days find it hard enough to pay for college, and the high prices of textbooks only add to the burden.

“Textbook prices are ridiculous,” said Sarah Haass, a sophomore Psychology major at Palo Alto College. “There should be a way to buy textbooks cheaper and easier.”

Haass spent more than $400 on textbooks last semester. When she sold the books back, she received $34.43.

Now, thanks to the Internet, students may shop around in cyberspace for the best book deals. The following websites are examples of what’s available to the online shopper seeking college textbooks.

The website www.bookfinder.com works as a search engine. Customers type in either the author’s name or the title of the book, and the website sifts through thousands of booksellers worldwide. Also, the customer can compare prices, shipping costs, and, if he or she would prefer, a used or new book on this website.

Another popular website is www.amazon.com, where you can search for new and used books from a variety of sellers. Included with the seller’s name is a description of the book’s condition and ratings on the seller’s service. Also, you can sell your textbook through Amazon and name your own price.

Last, but certainly not least, is www.half.ebay.com a website dedicated to helping you find exactly what you are looking for. This website lets you search for books that are being sold, and it also offers you a chance to sell your books.

Ordering online is simple. All you need is a credit or debit card. Anyone with an active checking account can order a debit card from his or her bank.

Roxanne Garza, a sophomore at Palo Alto College, spent $381.95, excluding tax, on seven textbooks this semester at the Palo Alto Bookstore. Comparing these same seven textbooks on the websites listed above, amazon.com’s total was $343.12, a savings of 10.1 percent; bookfinder.com’s price was $258.44, a savings of 32.3 percent; and half.ebay.com’s total equaled $257.23, a savings of 32.7 percent.

Aaron Gonzalez, a sophomore Kinesiology major at Palo Alto College, said,“ Textbook prices are flat-out insane. The Internet is the best source for buying your books, because it is faster and you have many more options.”

When comparing a campus bookstore to an online bookseller, opinions vary. Bookstores offer you the ability to own your book right away while an online bookseller requires that you wait to receive your book. When shopping at bookstores, there may be long lines and the possibility of sold-out books while the Internet offers you thousands of buying options with the click of a mouse. Bookstores take either credit or debit cards, checks or cash. Online booksellers only allow you to pay with credit or debit cards, and no single website can get you the best deal.

Shannon Pride, a sophomore at Palo Alto College, said, “The Internet may not be easier, but it is definitely cheaper.”

In comparing the prices of textbooks between the campus bookstore and the Internet, the results favor Internet booksellers. In most cases, the Internet is a cheaper and faster way of buying your own textbooks. Students can save between 15 to 75 percent, roughly, on new books alone. When purchasing used books, the savings can be even higher. Online vendors offer 24/7 access to book prices and purchasing. Buyers should be certain of what book they’re purchasing and be specific on what edition they need. In addition, buyers should only purchase books online from sellers with high customer satisfaction ratings.

The Internet also offers students the chance to sell back their used textbooks. The website www.textbooksnow.com is dedicated to helping individuals sell back their new and used books. Students just type in the name of the book and the website will give you a quote of what the book is worth.

Be prepared with numerous buying options to save yourself some cash. Make sure you have the title of the book, the author and its edition, and make sure you give yourself enough time to order your textbooks before the semester begins. Sometimes it takes a couple of weeks for the textbooks to arrive. The first day of classes for the Spring 2008 semester is Monday, Jan. 14.