Category: the Rant Board
I got a question that needs opinions gang! Damn do I really wanna know what you all think. And I'm in a chatty mood so forgive me on the lengthy posts tonight. I'll get to the point instead of "drag it on".
What do you think of places like Library of Congress or RFB&D making changes to their rules or uping the antie on their fees? Ok here's the quickie version of what happened to me. And this is where I ask for the opinions:
The university I go to is a great one. I love it thus far, I begin my first semester of classes in a month. The reason why I say I love the campus before setting foot is, that was my first choice for transfer, and I got accepted. They are a member of RFB&D HOWEVER the only deal is: They give me the textbooks on tape that I need, BUT I have to go over to the bookstore and BUY them myself. Which by the way if you're interested in wanting to know the price of a used book: $89 American Dollars. And don't know the price for new. I multiplied it by 4 for the $89 and got $356. Yup and wont be reimbersed bc of copyright laws students have to pay the school in order to loan books on tape like that for more then just one month.
So I thought I'd try the RFB&D, I don't have a membership with them. How much? $100 American Dollars. Plus $35 up front for annual fees. But I got a totally different story when I saw the individual membership, $100 a year....So I said "Hell with this I'm going else where." And their operators weren't helpful, they sounded like half out of it if you ask me.
Library of Congress, wonderful they don't do memberships....sucks. And textbooks can't be loaned for more then 60 days...and I said "Yeah well I have 3 months of school work, why can't the school lend them?" The operator told me "It's policy, we only lend for 60 days then you gotta buy the book." There goes my free ticket bc I've dependended on the LOC for all of my schooling needs for textbooks or equipment.
APH aka Amerian Printing House: You gotta request it and it's $.50 a page, that can get mighty expensive, and their search section wont let you search for the books you need. And I'm unsure of membership there. I'm like "Great I'd rahter just download the books and use them in class on my own time." I'd like the idea of books on CD, much easier format for me to read. And plus all I do in class is read notes or take notes from previous/current lectures.
What I'm asking is if anyone had this kind of problem? Where else do you look for your books? If you're a member of any of the listed above, whats you're reaction to what I learned today? Opinions are needed and welcomed.