University of Montevallo students will have a new way to save on school supplies during the upcoming fall semester, as the school will begin offering an in-store textbook rental program.

The UM Bookstore will be participating in the Follett Higher Education Group’s textbook rental program, which will allow students to borrow books and return them at the end of the semester.

Because students who participate in the program will not have to purchase the textbooks and attempt to sell them back at the end of the semester, the rental program could allow students to save more than 50 percent on each book they rent.

The program will not cover all books at the UM Bookstore, but the service could expand if the program is popular during its first semester.

“Students are so excited they will have the opportunity to save money on their textbooks,” said UM Bookstore Manager Jessica Glass. “I am so proud of the fact that we have the resources to be able to help.”

Glass said the program has been popular at other schools across the country, and she expects most students will rent textbooks if given the chance.

“We have had nothing but positive responses,” Glass said. “This is a great program, and we expect that the majority of students will participate.”

In order to rent textbooks, students must be 18 years old, have a valid credit card, an e-mail address and a valid identification card. The UM Bookstore will allow students to rent books at the store and online at Montevallo.edu/bookstore.

Through the program, students sign a rental contract at the beginning of the semester, in which they agree to return the book to the store by a certain date.

If the student fails to return the book by the due date, the bookstore will charge the book’s purchase price to the student’s credit card.

Although UM is currently the only school in Shelby County scheduled to offer textbook rental, the program could eventually expand to other schools throughout the region, according to the program’s website.