Find Free Textbooks Here
Some class materials you need might be free to use in our Course Reserves collection.
Before you buy your books, check at your Library! You can search in our Course Reserves list or in OneSearch for your professor, course code, or book title.
Although we can't get a copy of every textbook, we work with the bookstore and the Disability Programs & Resource Center each semester to create a list of all the required books and course materials that we do have for you to use.
Most ebooks on the list can be used by many students at once from anywhere. We always buy ebooks with an unlimited-user license when we can! Other ebooks are limited to one, two, or three users at a time, so they might be unavailable when you try to access them. In that case, check back a little later!
Sometimes you can download a chapter or even the full text to read offline. Other ebooks and articles can only be read online.
Our Course Reserves list also includes print books and other physical materials that we keep behind the desk for students to borrow for a few hours or a few days. These short-term loans allow many students to use a single item, and the loan period is set by the professor.
Not finding what you need? Ask a librarian for help!
Other places to look for free books:
- San Francisco Public Library: Get free access to audiobooks, ebooks, traditional hard-copy books, movies, music, printing, museum passes, and more!
- California's Bookshelf: Use the free Palace app to read thousands of ebooks and audiobooks thanks to a California State Library program.
- Project Connect Book Loan: This Associated Students program supplies free textbooks to SFSU students. Fill out an application at the start of each fall or spring semester.