VitalSource Helps

Free Access to Digital Course Materials

Using your cornell.edu address, you can access, for free, up to seven (7) titles to borrow now through May 25, 2020.

To gain access to this digital book catalog, please log in or create an account at bookshelf.vitalsource.com using your cornell.edu email address.

• First-time users should click Create a VitalSource account to begin
• Returning VitalSource users can use existing credentials to log in or click Forgot Password to reset account
• Once logged in to your Bookshelf account, click Explore to search by title.
• When you find the title you are looking for, click on the title’s book cover to Borrow.
• An item-counter in the lower-left corner of the Bookshelf screen will help keep track of the number of books borrowed.

To access ebooks offline, students and instructors can download the Bookshelf app on a computer or mobile device. The Bookshelf app is available free on all major app stores. Students may download ebooks simultaneously on two desktop/laptops and two mobile devices. If a user reaches the activated devices limit, deactivate a device to activate other devices in account settings.

VitalSource does not share user data and all participants of the VitalSource Helps program will automatically be opted out of marketing initiatives.

For assistance using VitalSource Bookshelf, or if you’re having trouble finding a title, please contact The Cornell Store’s textbook department at textbooks@cornell.edu.

Further information regarding VitalSource Helps, including answers to frequently asked questions for students can be found on the VitalSource website.

Information about Textbook Buyback

We are gathering information on the available online markets for students to sell their textbooks at the end of the academic year. We will be providing additional information and guidance soon.

Information about Textbook Rentals

We are extending the rental return deadline beyond the original May 16, 2020 return date into the fall semester. If you are not returning to Cornell in the fall, we will provide a solution for returning your rentals at no expense to you. If you wish to keep your rented textbooks permanently, you may do so by converting your rental to purchase by contacting us.

Contact Us

The Cornell Store is available to help you navigate your concerns regarding academic materials. Please contact us or by phone: toll free (800) 624-4080