TABLE OF CONTENTS
Lesley uses a student-directed course materials model. Students purchase their materials from the retailer of their choice rather than through a single bookstore vendor. To make this work, list the Title, Author, and ISBN for each required text directly in your syllabus, and post the syllabus in MyLesley (Blackboard). The ISBN matters most: it ensures students get the correct edition no matter where they shop.
Finding the correct ISBN for your syllabus
If you don't have the exact ISBN on hand, such as when a publisher issues a new edition, use one of these tools to confirm Title, Author, and ISBN before adding it to your syllabus:
- Google Books: search by title and author to see all editions and their ISBNs.
- WorldCat: confirms publisher, edition, and format details.
- The publisher's own catalog site (Pearson, Cengage, Wiley, etc.): the most reliable source when a specific edition is required.
- BookFinder or CampusBooks: the same tools students use. Searching your title here also shows the price range students will face, which can help if you're choosing between suitable texts.
If a lower-cost option would work for your course, check whether an Open Educational Resource exists for your subject through OpenStax or LibreTexts before finalizing your syllabus.
Requesting a free desk copy
Publishers offer free desk (or examination) copies to instructors who adopt a text. Request pages for common publishers:
| Publisher | How to request |
|---|---|
| Pearson | Search the title, click "I'm an Educator," then "Request a Copy." Requests go to a Pearson rep for review and can take 3 to 4 weeks. Pearson desk copy support |
| Cengage | For a fast eBook review copy, use Cengage's instructor review copy page. For print desk copies, email order.samples@cengage.com |
| McGraw Hill | Search the ISBN, switch to "Instructor" view on the product page, request a copy. New instructor accounts are validated with a university email, which usually takes 3 business days. McGraw Hill instructor copy guide |
| Wiley | Search the title; if available, a "Request an evaluation copy" link appears on the product page. Wiley evaluation and desk copies |
| Oxford University Press | Find the title on OUP's US Higher Ed site and click "Request Inspection Copy." Most titles are digital only. OUP examination copies |
| SAGE / Russell Sage | Email pubs@rsage.org on department letterhead with course name, expected enrollment, and order details. Their desk copy policy assumes a bookstore order, so you may need to explain the direct-purchase model. Exam copy policy |
For publishers not listed (Macmillan Learning, Springer, Norton, Elsevier, smaller academic presses): search the publisher's site by ISBN and look for a "For Instructors" or "Request a Copy" link on the book's product page. If there's no online form, contact the publisher's higher-ed rep; most publishers have a rep lookup by discipline or region. Have your name and shipping address, course number, semester, expected enrollment, and the ISBN ready. If you haven't formally adopted the book yet, ask for an examination copy, which publishers provide so you can evaluate a text before committing
Was this article helpful?
That’s Great!
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry! We couldn't be helpful
Thank you for your feedback
Feedback sent
We appreciate your effort and will try to fix the article