Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my textbooks?

You will need your course schedule in order to accurately find your textbooks.

Open your class schedule in eServices and click on “Review My Plan.” Your courses will be listed with a four letter subject/department code, a four digit course number, and a two digit section number (for example: ENGL 1111 01, or MATH 1110 90).

Books in the Bookstore are organized by subject/department, course number, and section.

Please come prepared with a print out of your schedule or bring up your schedule in eServices on your phone when you visit the Bookstore. Knowing the name of the course and/or the title of the book is not enough for Bookstore staff to help you find the books you need.

If ordering your textbooks online, go to www.dctcbookstore.com. If it is the first time you have ordered online, you will need to register first. Log in, click on “order textbooks,” select your course(s) from the menu, and then click on “get course materials.” You can also print out a list of the books needed for each course by clicking on “print book list.”

How much do my textbooks cost?

The best way to check prices for textbooks is on our website, www.dctcbookstore.com. Click on “order textbooks,” select your course(s) from the menu, then click on “get course materials.” The textbooks for your courses will displayed, along with prices for used books and new books.

If you are in the store, prices will be listed on the course tags on the shelves.

Please note: while both used and new prices may be listed, this does not guarantee the availability of textbooks in these conditions. Prices are subject to change.

How do I charge my textbooks to financial aid?

Once your financial aid has been successfully processed and certified, textbooks can be purchased using financial aid funds in the Bookstore and on the Bookstore’s website. Financial aid charging is only available for a specific period of time at the start of each semester. Check the Bookstore and our website for posted dates.

If you would like to charge your textbooks and supplies to financial aid in the Bookstore, you will need your DCTC Campus Card (student ID) and your star ID.

To charge textbooks and supplies to financial aid for an online order, select Financial Aid ("FA") as your payment type during checkout and enter your star ID in the account number field.

While Bookstore staff can check to verify available funds, any specific questions regarding financial aid should always be addressed through the Financial Aid Office.

Please see the Financial Aid Charging Information page on our site for additional guidelines.

What is Direct Digital?

The DCTC Bookstore has been working with DCTC instructors and textbook publishers on an exciting new program designed to help reduce the cost of textbooks. The required materials for participating classes will be available to students digitally through a link on the course's D2L website (access to the course D2L website begins three days prior to the start of the semester). Access to the materials is entirely covered by the fee that is charged for the class, no additional purchase is necessary.

If you prefer, you may opt out of this program and find your required materials elsewhere. An opt out function will be available inside the course D2L page along with the course materials. If you do opt out, the fee will be refunded and your access to the materials will be disabled. Requests to opt out must be received no later than the Friday of the 2nd week of the semester.

For those who prefer to have a printed book to supplement their digital materials, information about ordering an optional printed “upgrade” will also be available in D2L. For more information and some tutorial videos, please CLICK HERE. If you are having any issues, please contact (312) 878-2628 or [email protected] for customer support.

What should I do if I need my books but my financial aid has not gone through yet?

If your financial aid is not available by the financial aid charging deadline, you have a few options to consider:

  • You may use a credit card to pay for your materials online.
  • Many instructors make textbooks, articles, and other course material available through the Minneapolis College Library's reserve collection for use in the library. See http://library.minneapolis.edu/
  • For access codes: see your instructor. Sometimes you can obtain temporary, limited access.

Why is my order on hold?

The most common reason orders may be placed on hold is because financial aid has not posted as an available balance to be used in the Bookstore. We check for financial aid availability daily, and your order will be processed as soon as your aid has posted.

Common reasons your financial aid may not be available for Bookstore purchases:
  • You have just registered for classes or added/dropped a class. These actions can temporarily affect your financial aid availability.
  • You have not accepted your financial aid yet.
  • Your loans have not been certified yet.
  • You do not have enough financial aid funds available (after tuition and fees have been deducted) for Bookstore purchases.
Please note: there are various other factors that may affect your financial aid availability (sometimes unknown to the Bookstore). Any questions about your financial aid should be directed to the Financial Aid Office.

What should I do if I need my books but my financial aid has not gone through yet?

If your financial aid is not available by the financial aid charging deadline, you have a few options to consider:
  • You may use cash, credit card, or check (must present valid Photo ID) to purchase the books in the Bookstore
  • If ordering online, you may use a credit card to pay for your books
  • You may set-up a FACTS payment plan and purchase your materials in the Bookstore
  • Many instructors make textbooks, articles, and other course material available through the IHCC Library's reserve collection for use in the library. See https://www.inverhills.edu/library/
  • For access codes: see your instructor. Sometimes you can obtain temporary, limited access.

How do I place an online order?

Please see our online guide for step-by-step instructions. If it is the first time you have ordered textbooks online, you will need to register on our site first. Please use a valid email address that you check regularly when registering. Be sure to check your spam folder, as sometimes our messages may be directed there. Email is our primary method of communicating with you!

What is my account number?

If you are paying with financial aid, a Third Party payment, Veteran's benefits/deferment, or PSEO, your account number requested on the checkout page is your star ID.

How do I know my online order was received?

You will receive an email from the Bookstore confirming your online order after you have placed it on our site. The confirmation will be sent to the email address you used when registering on our site and will include your order number. If you do not receive an email confirmation within 24 hours of placing your order, your order was not received and you will need to submit a new one.

Please note: you will receive a separate email once your order is ready for pick-up or has been shipped.

How long does it take for online orders to be processed?

It typically takes 1-2 business days for an online order to be processed. However, during busy times (like the beginning of each semester), orders can take longer to fill. Please plan ahead and order early.

I requested a used book, but I received a new book. Why?

We make every effort to fill your order as requested, but we reserve the right to make substitutions if your books are not available in the requested condition. This means if you select "used preferred" and a used book is not available at the time your order is filled, a new book will automatically be substituted, and vice versa. The dollar amount of your order WILL change if substitutions are made. All prices are subject to change without notice. Please note: while both used and new prices may be listed, this does not guarantee the availability of textbooks in these conditions.

What does it mean when an item in my order is marked as a "Backorder" on my receipt?

If your item is backordered, that means that we have placed an order with the publisher/manufacturer and are expecting a delivery of the item. Your order remains in our system, but you have not been charged for it yet. When we receive the item from the publisher/manufacturer, you will be charged for the item and you will receive an email when your item is ready to be picked up or has been shipped to you.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to estimate how long an item will remain on backorder. Generally the wait is fairly short, but sometimes the publisher will have to print more copies of an uncommon or custom book, or combine orders from multiple warehouses. The Bookstore works hard to ensure that we receive all course materials in as timely a fashion as possible and we apologize for any issues caused by backordered books.

Options for backordered textbooks in the meantime:
For textbooks: many instructors make textbooks, articles, and other course material available for use in the library through the IHCC Library's reserve collection. See https://www.inverhills.edu/library/
For access codes: see your instructor. Sometimes it is possible to obtain temporary, limited access from the publisher.

What does it mean when an item that I ordered is marked as "Sold Out" on my receipt?

Merchandise is "Sold Out" for a given semester when we have sold our last available item of that style. The Bookstore does not usually restock items like clothing, backpacks, planners, water bottles, and gifts, so these are available only for a limited time. Similarly, items like pens, pencils, Optional Textbooks, and folders will often only be restocked at the beginning of each semester, so once we have sold our last item for the semester, we typically won't have more of that item until the next semester.

The online bookstore gets its stock from the main Bookstore, which means that people are shopping in the main store at the same time that online orders are coming in. Due to this fact, some items that we have in stock when an order is placed will have sold by the time the online bookstore attempts to fulfill the order. We sincerely regret any inconvenience that is caused when this occurs.

How do I cancel an online order?

Orders can be cancelled by sending an email to [email protected]. The email must include your name, star ID, order number, and the reason for the cancellation. Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel your order. If an order has already been processed, we may not be able to cancel it.

Why was my online order cancelled?

Some common reasons for cancellation are:
  • The payment method entered was declined
  • Financial aid funds were not available during the charging period
  • You requested the cancellation
If you feel your order has been cancelled in error, please contact us immediately.

How do I know when my online order is ready to be picked up?

As soon as your order is processed, you will receive an email stating that your order is ready for pick-up. Check your email regularly for messages from the Bookstore. If you are expecting a message from us and you do not see it in your inbox, check your junk/clutter/spam folder.

What do I need in order to be able to pick up my online order?

You must have a photo ID to pick up your order. Acceptable forms of photo ID are an DCTC Campus Card (student ID) or a government issued ID. The name on your ID must match the name on your order.

If you are picking up a Metro Transit Go-To College Pass, you must have your DCTC Campus Card. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Can someone else (friends/family) pick up my online order?

Usually*, if you enter the person’s name in the “customer notes” field when placing your order. If you didn't enter that information while you were placing your order, you can still have someone else pick up your order. Call us at (651) 450-3533 or email us at [email protected] and let us know the name of the person who will be picking up your order. Please note: a photo ID is required to pick up all orders.

*Metro Transit Go-To College Passes must be picked up by the registered student who will be using the Pass
 AND the student MUST present their IHCC Campus Card. No exceptions.

Where do I pick up my online order?

All online orders (textbooks, course supplies, and general merchandise) are picked up inside the Bookstore

During the first week of Fall and Sping session: online orders are picked up at the Buyback window at the back of the store. You do NOT have to wait in line to get your online order.

Why did my shipping order get changed to pick up at store?

There are several reasons this may have happened. Some items cannot be shipped and any order that contains those items will be changed to be picked up at store. Examples of items like this include Go-To College Bus Passes.

Where can I return books I purchased?

Returns are accepted during a specific window each semester. Check the Bookstore, our website, or your receipt for dates. Please see our Return Policy for additional details.

If you purchased the books in-store or online, you must return them to the Bookstore with your original receipt.

*PSEO students: you must turn in ALL of your books at the conclusion of each semester. This includes loose leaf textbooks AND coursepacks. Even if it had a sticker that says "No return if unwrapped."