Buy/Rent Textbooks
Buy/Rent/Compare
Go directly to BeachBookCompare.com, select your classes, select your textbooks, compare prices (with the online marketplace), add to cart (whether from the Bookstore or the marketplace), and check out.
Load Textbooks From MyCSULB
Pre-load your textbooks on BeachBookCompare.com by clicking the “My Textbook” link from MyCSULB Student Center portal.
Refund Policy
Please visit our Returns Guidelines page for our refund policy.
Physical Options
As a non-profit, Beach Shops are dedicated to lowering the costs of course materials by acquiring cheaper formats from the traditional new book whenever available. These include sourcing as many used books as possible, working with vendors to make as many titles available as a rental, acquiring cheaper loose-leaf formats, and producing faculty course packs. Some classes may require bundles, which is a set of multiple books or a combination of a physical textbook along with a digital courseware product.
When renting a textbook, you will need to provide a CSULB student ID, as well as a credit card that does not expire before the rental due date. Whether renting in-store or through a web order you will also need to agree to our rental agreement. For information on rental returns, please visit CSULB Bookstore Rental Returns.
Digital Options
An e-book is a textbook in digital format. It is no longer just a plain PDF. With our digital provider, VitalSource, e-books now contain features such as highlighting and note taking capabilities. If available, e-books can be purchased on our BeachBook Compare website under "From CSULB Digital Bookstore Provider", or students can Shop CSULB Digital Textbooks directly.
A courseware is an adaptive learning technology product which contains homework, quizzes, and/or tests. Examples of courseware include Achieve, Connect, MindTap, MyLab, Revel, WebAssign, and WileyPlus. Courseware products usually include the e-book on the publisher's platform.
Digital items are sold as physical codes or emailed to you by VitalSource or RedShelf, depending on the title and vendor. Digital items will contain the word “DIGITAL” towards the end of the title.
Physical Codes – The author will contain the words “PHYSICAL CODE”. If purchased via web order, these will be either shipped or available for pick up depending on the shipping method you select. If purchased in-store, these will be available at the Front Registers. Access instructions will be provided along with the code.
VitalSource - The author will contain the word "VITALSOURCE". If purchased via web web order, access instructions will be emailed to you from notification@mail.prismrbs.io. If purchased in-store, access instructions will be printed on the bottom of the receipt.
RedShelf – The author will contain the word “REDSHELF”. If purchased via web order, access instructions will be emailed to you from notification@mail.prismrbs.io. If purchased in-store, access instructions will be printed on the bottom of the receipt.
Day 1 Digital Access (D1DA) is a CSULB program where the required textbook is available digitally through Canvas at a significantly discounted price from the physical textbook.
Students will receive access to the textbook on the first day of classes and have until the add/drop deadline without approval to opt-out. Any student who opts out by the deadline will receive a credit/refund to their CSULB account.
To find out if your class is enrolled in the D1DA program, please visit your Canvas class page or check with your instructor. Any class enrolled in the D1DA program will have a title listed as DAY 1 DIGITAL ACCESS (VISIT BEACHBOARD) on our BeachBook Compare website. Additionally, you will receive an email from no-reply@verbasoftware.com on the first day of classes if any of your classes are enrolled in the D1DA program.
For more information, please visit the Day 1 Digital Access page.
