(Archive November 2018) Student Veterans Receive Free Textbooks

By Briana Shelly | Observer Contributor

Since 2010, the Veterans Textbook Donation Program has been successfully assisting students with borrowing books free of charge every semester.

Robert Mayer, military veteran and the Director of Veteran Services, has been in charge of the program since 2014.

“Doesn’t matter what ranking or branch or service, they will tell you the wrong information,” Mayer said. Referencing the many students who are unaware of all the benefits they can reap once getting into college, Mayer stated that there have been plenty of occasions where students are coming straight from serving and are misled on their educational path.

A student must have served in the military or be a dependant of someone who is currently serving in order to qualify for the program. The program is free of charge to all veterans and the process is similar to checking out a book from your local library; sign the book out, date it, and put down your student ID number.

Mayer noted that the program has received well over one hundred books for students and donations are always in demand during the semester. The books will need to be in fair condition and it does not matter which edition of the respective book is donated; any and all are accepted. So long as the book’s material matches the class material, Mayer will add it to his library.

When asked how students as a whole can help the cause, Mayer suggested word-of-mouth and social media could generate a larger outcome for the program. Students who have textbooks lying around that are no longer being used can drop them off in Mayer’s office where he will put them to use for a student veteran in need.

Mayer also mentioned that students who are not veterans can receive textbook donations through the MWCC Facebook Textbook Exchange page.

For any students who are looking to offload a textbook, Mayer said, “You may never know when there will be a student in need.”