The University's Best Practices Guidelines describe how textbook choices promote a high quality educational experience through consideration of appropriate pedagogical approaches, as well minimizing the costs of textbooks. Click here for information about the Textbook Affordability Act.
All textbook adoption information, including the International Standard Book Number (ISBN), must be submitted to the University Book Center (UBC) by May 1 for Summer and Fall classes and by December 1 for Winter term and Spring classes. You should follow your department's standard procedures for submitting this information. If your department uses a book coordinator to order textbooks, you should go through your coordinator and not communicate directly with the UBC. If it is standard practice for you to order your books directly, then go to the UBC website, click on “Faculty” and follow the directions from that point. UBC textbook staff is available for additional assistance at 301-314-BOOK (2665). Remember to complete the Acknowledgement of Compliance form before or when submitting your order. either to the bookstore or to your department's book coordinator.
Textbook information may be provided to other vendors (including Maryland Book Exchange, BookHolders.com, or other online vendors) but not in lieu of submitting it to the UBC. Once the textbook adoption information is verified, it will be posted on Testudo by UBC in compliance with the University policy on textbook orders. Information posted will include title, author, publisher, edition, copyright date and publication date, ISBN, and anticipated enrollment for the course.
As directed by the state's Textbook Affordability Law, faculty members must submit an acknowledgement of compliance with the law.