This page lists resources for Tufts students to access textbooks and other course materials. If you need help finding materials, Ask Us!
Resources at Tisch
- Find out how to see what materials your professor has identified as required or recommended reading that everyone needs free access to on our Course reserves page. This includes ebooks, print books, articles, and more.
- Search JumboSearch for titles that you need for class that you don’t find on reserve.
- Request materials that we don’t own at Tufts through Interlibrary loan (ILL). Note that it’s often not possible for us to borrow traditional textbooks from other libraries, but ILL can be a good source of other readings.
Resources at Tufts
- Purchase books at reduced costs directly from other Tufts students through TCU Textbook Exchange. See more information or find your books.
- Request to borrow a book at no cost from the FIRST Center’s Book it Forward Lending Library (for students receiving financial aid).
- Talk to your course’s instructor if you need assistance in accessing materials. They may have access codes that they can provide, or other resources for accessing books & online platforms. They can also work with the library to buy ebook copies of texts where possible, or to identify freely-available texts.
Resources outside of Tufts
- Request a Boston Public Library (BPL) ecard to get access to all of the BPL’s ebooks, databases, and other electronic resources. Everyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Massachusetts is eligible.
- Search collections of freely available ebooks:
- Internet Archive - note that some books are part of their “Lending Library” and require signing up for a free account to borrow.
- HathiTrust - you’re most likely to find older books here (earlier than 1930).
- Digital Research Books