Unbinding books?

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I've almost finished accumulating the books that I'm going to need for nursing school this fall (I start my ADN program on August 19th), and even though there are a couple books that haven't been delivered yet I already have almost fifty pounds of books! :yikes: My cousin told me that what he did in pharmacy school was to get his books unbound and then just take the chapters he needed to class with him (he kept the unbound books in sheet protectors in three-ring binders). Personally I think that this is a great idea and am heavily leaning toward doing that with my nursing texts, but I was wondering if anyone else has done this and how well it worked? I'm a bit worried that I'm going to unbind all my books and then discover that it really doesn't work well.

Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.

I've had mine done at office max.

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cool, there are three or four dozen office supply stores between me and Nashville, thanks!

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.

Had a smaller clinical book cut and spiraled for like $5.

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Thanks for the responses.

What's the advantage of spiral binding? Just so the book stays flat, or is there a spiral binding that allows (easily) taking out pages?

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.
Thanks for the responses.

What's the advantage of spiral binding? Just so the book stays flat, or is there a spiral binding that allows (easily) taking out pages?

Good for small clinical books. Yes you can open it flat and not have to prop it open.

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We don't bring ANY of our books to class.

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I don't take my books to class. Ever. I've done the reading ahead of time and if there is something that gets referenced from the book that is vital to know, I make a note and look at it when I get home.

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

Why not just get a Kindle because many many texts are available for e-readers now.

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Specializes in critcal care, CRNA.

I wouldn't cut any books I plan to try and sell, but if you are going to keep certain books forever then by all means make them as user friendly as you like. E-readers are great but not always acceptable in clinical settings.

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Specializes in ICU.

You can find many books already in a loose leaf version, if you're really dead set on that, perhaps try looking for loose leaf versions in the future. That way they aren't altered and the resale value isn't shot.

I've bought several loose leaf books because they tend to cost a lot less than the bound versions. However, I'm not a fan. I found it was a lot more work to try and keep pages in order and moving chapters in and out of the "main" version to the smaller one I carried around. It was jus a pain. If you decide to un-bind, maybe just do one and see how you like it and then do the others. That way, if you don't like it, you aren't SOL with all your books.

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

I just ran the book unbinding idea past my college prof husband. He suggested you not do it for your non nursing courses because some profs will sometimes switch books on short notice, sometimes a book won't come in on time and the prof is forced to substitute another text.

His other idea? If your roommate is also a nursing major in the same semester of study, that you split the cost of books to be unbound and each (or share) electronic copies or each have your own e-copies for clinicals. If you have clinicals on different days, share.

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Specializes in Trauma, Orthopedics.

Don't bother. In my 7 years of college I've never once brought a textbook to class. Only if I go to the library to study. Totally not worth it.

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