I love getting mail. I love books. So, as you can probably guess, I love getting new textbooks in the mail.
Since I'm still pretty new at this professor thing, my bookshelves are practically empty when compared with those of my colleagues. I have to seek out preview copies of texts I'm interested in, signing up for accounts with publishers or tracking down the often-elusive company representative. In contrast, my more senior colleagues get unsolicited boxes of textbooks every other week.
The packages don't just result in new editions of textbooks. They also bring out the textbook buyers. These are the guys that come around with their wheely-bags, poke their heads into every faculty office, and offer to buy back your unwanted preview copies of textbooks.
I always give the same response: "No, thank you. I don't sell back books." I actually *want* all the textbooks I've requested. I don't have double copies or newer editions of the same book. Although, to be honest, even when the day comes that my bookshelves are overflowing with unwanted textbooks, I'm still not sure I'll be comfortable with selling a free book.
Do you think it is okay for professors to sell preview copies of textbooks? If the copy was sent without being requested, does that make a difference? Do you sell back (or are planning on selling back) preview copies of textbooks? If not, what do you do with the redundant books?
