
We are the University Book Store

Local & Independent Since 1894
We are a non-stockholding corporation that proudly serves the students and faculty of the University of Wisconsin - Madison and the greater Madison community.
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*(In-store only) – For new incoming UW students & parents only with email signup.
Tech Center
- Apple Educational Pricing
- Onsite Tech Service & Repair
- Buy the right laptop for your major - we can help!
- Tech essentials: routers & computer accessories, phone and laptop chargers, converter cables, and much more
- Wiscard Accepted
- Apple Products
Textbooks & Course Materials
- Textbook options to fit your need: New, Used, Rentals, and digital eBooks
- Purchase in store or buy online for store pickup or delivery
- You won't get the wrong version - we get course information directly from your professors
- 5% discount when you pay with Wiscard
- Free Dorm Delivery
Gameday Clothing & Gifts
- Game Bibs™
- ZooZatz™
- Men's & Women's T-Shirts
- Men's & Women's Sweatshirts
- Gameday Accessories
- 5% discount when you pay with Wiscard
School Supplies
- Backpack
- Datebook/calendar/planner
- Writing utensils: pens & pencils, highlighters
- Paper products: spiral notebooks, composition & lab books, binders, pocket folders, filler paper, index cards
- Tech essentials: flash drive, chargers, converter cables (HDMI, USB-C, etc)
- Other essentials: ruler/straight edge, tape, glue, paperclips, stapler & staples, scissors, 3-hole punch
- Memo/bulletin board
- If you have a printer: printer paper & inkjet cartridges
- 5% discount when you pay with Wiscard
Incoming Student FAQ
The University Book Store receives information regarding textbook requirements from your
professors as early as months before the semester starts through the first weeks of classes.
We make every effort to get your books on the shelf as soon as we learn of the requirements.
If you don't find a book, you can keep checking back or you can go to the information
counter in the textbook department to inquire on the status of your book.
Textbooks are located on the lower level of the University Book Store at 711 State Street.
Class books are arranged first by department, next by class within each department. You
should bring a list of your classes with you when you shop for your books each semester.
This list should contain the names of your professors along with lecture and section
numbers. This will help you make sure you're buying the right books for the right classes.
It's not uncommon to have three professors teaching a particular class using three
completely different sets of books.
Yes, at text.uwbookstore.com. You will need the
same information as that listed in the previous answer when ordering textbooks online. You
may have your books delivered to your home or dorm, or you may pick them up on the lower
level of the University Book Store, 711 State Street, during regular Book Store hours. You must
present a valid picture I.D. at time of pickup.
Occasionally books are unavailable when you make your first trip to the University Book
Store. In most cases this is not because a book has sold out, but because it simply has not
arrived. Instructors are made aware of these out of stock situations and will usually adjust
assignments until books arrive. When enrollments are larger than expected, instructors
notify the Book Store of the increases and books are re-ordered. These usually arrive by the
end of the first week of classes. We do begin taking reservations for books at the end of
the first week. Stop in at the service counter in the text department and fill out a form so
that we can save a copy of the book for you and send you a card notifying you of its
arrival.
The University Book Store purchases textbooks from students year round. We also buy used
books from wholesalers across the country. These used books tend to be the best value for
the students, which also means they are in the greatest demand.
Yes. The University Book Store offers its buyback service for two basic reasons:
- to provide students cash for books they no longer need; and,
- to provide a supply of used books for students to buy at substantial savings.
The buyback price is determined by a variety of factors. For buyback pricing, textbooks fall into one of three categories. During the course of a semester or buyback period, a title may move from one category to another based on demand. The categories are as follows:
- ½ Price Books
If a faculty member has notified the University Book Store that a book will be used on campus next semester, in most cases we will pay ½ of the current new book price, even if you bought the book used or the new book price was lower at the time of your purchase. When we have met our anticipated needs for that title for the upcoming semester, we will purchase that title for the used book wholesalers. - Books not ordered for the upcoming semester
Used book wholesalers determine the prices they will pay for certain books. The University Book Store technically acts as the wholesaler's agent and buys the book for the company from the student, and thus we must use their prices. Nationwide demand, current wholesaler supply and anticipated revision dates are some of the factors that the wholesale companies use in determining the prices they offer. - Books that we are not buying back
There are four reasons why a book may not have any buyback value:- A new edition has been published
- There is little or no nationwide demand
- There is excess wholesale supply
- The book is in poor (non-salable) condition
Every day that we are open which is Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00
p.m., Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5:00 p.m.
The best time to sell your books is during the periods of May 1st through August 31st and
December 1st through January 20th.
Absolutely! By aggressively purchasing used books and participating in buyback, you can save
up to 75% off the new book price. (For example, if you bought a used copy of a $50 book for
$37.50 and then sold it back at ½ price of $25, you would pay only $12.50 for the use
of that book; that's only 25% on the new book price.)
Some instructors provide books lists to other local shops. We may very well have used copies
of the books you need. Bring us a copy of your syllabus after you have gone to your first
class and we will do all we can to find used copies of the books you need.
The University Book Store accepts cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover
and Wiscard, the University of Wisconsin-Madison's debit card.
You can put money into your Wiscard Campus Cash account at the Memorial Union Cashier's
Office or online.
The average student spends $350-$450 per semester at the University Book Store.
The return policy for the non-textbook merchandise is 30 days with a receipt for a full
refund.
Collegiate clothing and gifts, school supplies, computer software and supplies, art
supplies, general interest books, even coffee too!
Your non-text supplies such as art supplies and general books, will be found on the first
floor in the University Book Store.
Notary public, and custom framing.