Back to Read This First Table of Contents
3.1 Introduction
The UW Law School Bookmart, Inc. is a non-profit organization formed to provide law school textbooks, course materials, and supplies to students. Because of its relatively small market, it operates on restricted hours and currently does not accept credit cards or debit cards. Cash, checks, and traveler’s checks are accepted. The Bookmart, which is located in Room 2115, generally is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 2:30 with longer hours at the beginning of each semester, and Monday and Tuesday evenings from 5-7 p.m. (Why no credit/debit cards? The Bookmart works to keep book prices as low as possible. To accept credit and/or debit cards, the cost for the capability would necessarily have to be passed on to Bookmart patrons. However, in a student-body wide survey taken in the Spring 2006 semester, respondents indicated by a two-to-one margin that they would prefer foregoing the convenience of credit/debit cards over any associated increase in prices.)
3.2 First Semester of Your First Year
During orientation, first-year students are provided a particular time in which to purchase books. Each Small Section has a designated time to buy books, because all students in this Small Section have the same classes and books. The Bookmart is set up to offer those particular books at those particular times and to do so with minimal delay for the student.
3.3 Second Semester and Beyond
After your first semester, no two students necessarily have the same book needs. Books are therefore sold "to order." Each student has access to a book-shopping list, which you can mark with the books you want before reaching the sales window. Bookmart staff will then assemble your order and you will pay for the materials.
3.4 Used Books & Book Lists
Unfortunately, space constraints do not currently enable the Bookmart to stock used books. However, the Bookmart buys back used books for a national wholesaler twice a year, at the end of the fall and spring semesters.
Lists of required (or recommended) books for courses in the current term, Bookmart hours, policies, and related information may be found on-line at: http://www.law.wisc.edu/current/book-mart.htm
“Buying books would be a good thing if one could also buy the
time to read them in: but as a rule the purchase of books is
mistaken for the appropriation of their contents.”
(Arthur Schopenhauer)