You cannot see on our website which books are in stock. But you can count on the fact that actually all textbooks for the current and upcoming period or block can be delivered within two or three business days.
I have ordered a textbook, the course has already started, and I have been waiting for my delivery for several days. What now?
There may be some delays in the delivery of textbooks. We make every effort to have the required textbooks in stock and deliver your order as soon as possible. Usually, if you don't have it, no one else will. We do our best to deliver everyone the book as soon as possible. In case of problems we inform the teacher.
I bought a textbook, but I want to quit the course. Can I still return the book?
You may return textbooks in exceptional cases in consultation with a VU Bookstore staff member.
I'm going to take a course, but I can't find it on the website. What should I do now?
You can buy textbooks for the whole year, but we strongly advise against it. Not only is it expensive, but you are taking a risk. This is because sometimes there are changes in the prescribed literature, or new editions of books appear. This can then mean that you buy the wrong book, or that you have bought a book you don't need at all. If you order books by the semester, you will always be in the right place!
How much discount do I get on my textbooks if I am a member of a study association?
If you are a member of a study association, you get very high discounts on your textbooks. get very high discounts on your textbooks. You can go directly to the website of your faculty's study association when ordering textbooks online.
Do I also get a discount on textbooks I buy at the VU Bookstore campus store if I am a member of a study association?
If you can prove that you are a member of a study association, you can also get your books at a discount in the VU Bookstore.
As a teacher, where can I put information about the textbooks I want to prescribe?
You can you can fill out a form
here where you can put all your information about textbooks.
Can I also receive a teacher's copy through the VU Bookstore?
Yes, this option can be found
here
Does the VU Bookstore also sell used textbooks?
Used books are sold online through the student union website. The store on campus also sells used textbooks. However, you must be a member of a study association to purchase used books at the VU Bookstore.
Can I sell my used textbooks through the VU Bookstore?
You can offer your textbooks that you no longer need here. It is easy and you will receive the money as soon as your book is sold.
How do I buy an Ebook?
After ordering your ebook you will receive an activation link from Vital Source. With this link you create your account at Vital Source. As soon as you have logged in you will get access to your Bookshelf where you can read your e-book online.
I did not receive the link, what do I do?
It sometimes happens that the mail ends up in your spam folder. Therefore, always check your spam folder first. If it is not in your spam folder you can
click here to send an email.
Can I return or change an Ebook?
It is not possible to return or change a purchased Ebook.
The book I want to order is not available as Ebook.
Unfortunately the book is not available as an Ebook at the moment.
I have lost my access link, what do I do?
If you have lost your access link you can
click here to send an email. We will then send you the code again.
What devices can I read my Ebook on?
You can read your textbooks on any computer, tablet or mobile phone. The Bookshelf is compatible with both Macs and PCs as well as iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, and Chromebook devices.
Can I acces my Ebook on more than one device?
Yes, you will be able to download and access your Ebook onto 2 computers AND 2 mobile devices using the Bookshelf app.
Do I have to be connected to the internet to read my Ebook?
No! You can access 100% of your Ebooks without an internet connection. To access your Ebooks offline, you will need to download the Bookshelf app onto your computer, tablet or mobile device.
Can I print my Ebook?
Restrictions around the use of copy & paste and printing are set by the publisher on a title by title basis.
What does ’90 days’, ‘180 days’ and ‘unlimited access’ mean?
Some Ebooks have an option to purchase the book with access for a limited amount of time; 90 or 180 days, for example. You can also choose to buy them with unlimited access. Limited access is available at a lower price.
Some Ebooks are available with ‘reflowable layout’ and some with ‘fixed layout’, what does that mean?
There are two formats of Ebooks, including Reflowable and Fixed Layouts.
A Reflowable Ebook, is also known as an EPUB. The text is responsive, so the font size can be easily adjusted no matter the size of the screen. These books conform to EPUB 3 industry standards.
A Fixed Layout Ebook is also known as a PDF. The fixed layout textbook maintains the look and feel of a bound book—the text is fixed and the screen size determines the size of the text.
Both types of Ebook support a wide range of features, including notes, highlights, text to speech, printing, syncing across devices, and more.