Montco Materials

Montco's Textbook and Course Material Program

Our Montco Materials program makes getting your course materials more convenient and affordable.

Receive all your course materials before the first day of class
Save 35-50% on the cost of course materials each term
Benefit from a highly personalized service

Important Information
The Montco Materials program begins with the Fall 2025 semester. Identify and Order Summer 2025 materials at the Montco Bookstore website.

How It Works

Register For Classes

Upon registering for courses, you will be automatically enrolled into the program.

Verify Your Order

Starting 30 days before the first day of classes, you will receive an email to verify your order and select your fulfillment preference.

Receive Your Textbooks

An email notification will be sent when your order is ready for pickup or when it ships. Your digital materials will be delivered for your course(s) within the College’s learning management system, Canvas.

Frequently Asked Questions

For Students

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What is the Montco Materials program?

Montco Materials is a course material delivery model that simplifies the student experience, lowers the cost of materials, and ensures students have access to all of their required course materials on or before the first day of class. Through this innovative program, physical books are conveniently packaged and provided to students on a rental basis, and access to digital material is directly within Canvas, simply priced at $20.00 per credit hour. At the end of the term, students will receive email reminders to return rented physical course materials to the bookstore.

How does it work?

Register for your classes and the bookstore will start preparing your course materials
One month before classes start, you will receive an email instructing you to select your delivery preference for any physical materials (in-store pickup or shipped directly to you)
An email notification will be sent when your order is ready for pickup or when it ships
Your digital materials will be delivered for your course(s) within Canvas

Who is eligible to participate?

All credit-seeking and guest students are automatically enrolled in the program. Dual enrollment students are not eligible to participate. Non-credit courses are not included in the program. All eligible students will be automatically enrolled in the Montco Materials program.

What materials are and are not included in the program?

The program provides all required textbooks, eTextbooks, lab manuals, and access codes to eligible students. The program does not include consumable course supplies that cannot be returned and reused such as lab goggles, uniforms, knife kits, dental hygiene kits, or nursing kits.

How do I enroll in the program?

All eligible students will be automatically enrolled in the Montco Materials program.

Can I opt-out of the program?

Students have the option to opt-out of the Montco Materials program each semester during the opt-out window. The opt-out window is open from July 28, 2025 to September 16, 2025. By opting out, students will not receive their required materials in a convenient package and access to digital content will be removed after the opt-out window closes. Options for purchasing course materials after opting out can be found on the bookstore website. To begin the opt-out process, please visit the opt-out portal. The portal will be open from July 28, 2025 to September 16, 2025.

How do I change my opt-out status

To change your opt-out status and opt into the Montco Materials program, please visit the opt-out portal or follow the instructions found in your opt-out confirmation email. Please note, you must make your final selection by September 16, 2025 for Fall 15-week and Fall 7-week I courses.

How do I purchase my course materials if I decide to opt-out of the program?

Students will be responsible for purchasing their required course materials through the bookstore.

When are my textbook rentals due back to the bookstore?

The deadline to return all rental textbooks is the last day of final exams for the semester. Students will receive reminders ahead of the rental deadline to their email address.

Can I buy my rented textbook?

Yes, the program provides you with the option to purchase any rental textbooks at a reduced rate during the semester.

Do I need to return books if they are for a continuation course?

Yes, you will still be required to return continuation course textbooks. You will be issued the same title for the next semester of the continuation course.

What happens if I never verify my order?

Students will receive email notifications from the bookstore reminding them to verify their order and choose their fulfillment preference. If the student does not opt-out, their materials will be held at the bookstore and their student account will be charged.

If I never pick up my books, will I still get charged?

Yes, if the student does not opt-out, their materials will be held at the bookstore and their student account will be charged.

What if I drop a class?

If course materials have been picked up or delivered for the dropped class, those materials should be returned to the bookstore within 48 hours. If you drop a class and enroll in a different class, the bookstore will “swap” the required course materials so that you have what you need.

Can I opt-out if I picked up my textbooks?

Yes, you will have 48 hours to return your textbooks. If you do not return the textbooks, the charges will remain on your student account, and you will be subject to a replacement and non-return processing fee.

For Faculty

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What is Montco Materials?

Montco Materials is a course material model that reduces the cost of materials for students and ensures they have all their materials across all courses prior to the first day of class. Instead of purchasing materials a la carte, the cost will be included in their course fees. The bookstore will provide each student with a convenient package for physical books and digital materials will be delivered directly to Canvas.

How does Montco Materials benefit students?

Montco Materials makes getting textbooks easier for students, which will ultimately improve their success. Not only will students receive their textbooks by the first day of class, but they will save an average of 35% - 50% on textbooks.

How can faculty contribute to the success of the program?

Faculty contribute to the program's success by submitting their course material selections into the bookstore before the adoption deadline each semester.

What is included in/excluded from the program?

The program provides the faculty-selected version of all required textbooks, lab manuals, access codes and digital materials to eligible students. The program does not include consumables that cannot be returned and reused such as lab goggles, uniforms, knife kits, dental hygiene kits, or nursing kits.

How do students purchase if they decide not to be in the program?

Eligible students who have elected to opt-out of the program will be responsible for purchasing their course materials through the bookstore.

How does BNC ensure that students are getting their required course materials?

Approximately one month before classes start, students will receive an email instructing them to select their fulfillment preference (in-store pickup at Blue Bell, Pottstown pickup, or shipped directly). A second email notification will be sent when the student’s order is ready for pickup or when it ships. Any digital materials delivered within Canvas will be available when the student has access to their course.

Will faculty have to change their course materials currently being used?

No, there are no restrictions to the course materials you select for your course. All course materials, from any publisher, in your preferred format are included in the program.

Why not work directly with publishers?

Publishers do not have the ability to provide all the different formats of content that faculty request at the lowest price possible.

How can we be sure that this will lower textbook costs for our students?

BNC is committed to lowering the costs of course material to our students, and with their integrated supply chain and economies of scale, the Montco Materials program brings a new innovative way to provide the most affordable solution for our students.

Will students be able to keep their course materials once they have completed the course?

Yes, the program provides students with the option to purchase textbooks at a reduced rate during the return period.

What happens if a faculty member changes their course material adoption?

If a faculty member changes their course material adoption, faculty should notify the bookstore of the new adoption and the bookstore will ensure that students receive the corrected course materials.

What if my teaching assignment changes?

e.g. I was scheduled to teach one course, but later assigned to another?

The bookstore is committed to helping as they normally do in those situations. We will just work to update the textbook adoption platform with the new materials.

What happens if a student drops/adds a course?

When a student changes their course schedule, instructions are provided for returning course materials, and the student will be prompted via email to select a delivery preference for any new courses that have been added.

What if students have questions or trouble accessing their digital course materials?

All students in the Montco Materials program using digital materials should be directed to contact Bookstore Customer Care at [email protected] for assistance.

If I adopt Open Education Resources (OER) or don’t require a textbook, do my students still have to pay the fee?

Students will pay for the total number of credits taken a semester, not by the number of courses utilizing the program. Students have the option to opt-out for all classes in their term.

How do we ensure course materials in the Montco Materials program are accessible to students with accommodations?

The bookstore can accommodate students with accessibility needs. Contact the Store Manager at [email protected].

Contact Information

For General Questions about Montco Materials
Call the Bookstore 215-641-6318
Email [email protected]
Visit the campus Bookstore in Parkhouse Hall, quad entrance, on Blue Bell Campus

For Technical Assistance with digital materials in Canvas

Call the Customer Care Team: 1-844-9-EBOOKS (1-844-932-6657)