ORONO – For University of Maine student Marie Machat, buying used books makes abundant sense.

“They say the same thing – they’re just cheaper,” she said with a grin, perusing the previously owned texts at the campus book store Tuesday.

With a used book priced at 25 percent less than a new book – which can cost upward of $150 – UM students are relying on the less expensive alternatives more than ever, said Bill Hockensmith, bookstore director.

For the fall semester, 65 percent of the books purchased at the Orono campus were used, up from 50 percent last year and from less than 30 percent the previous year, he said. Of the 30,000 books sold in August, a little more than 20,000 were used.

The Orono campus’ stock of used books comes mainly from eight suppliers around the country, but also from students who sell their books back to the university at a discounted rate. They are reimbursed at half price for books that are to be used the next semester. Otherwise, they receive whatever the used book company would pay, up to 25 percent of the new price.

Hockensmith credits faculty with helping increase the number of used books. Professors were asked to get their book orders in earlier than usual so the university could more promptly place requests with used-book companies which have a first-come, first served policy.

“The earlier you order from book companies, the more successful you are,” he said, noting that UM competes against 3,500 other college bookstores for used books.

“Faculty’s increased response really made a difference. They were fantastic,” he said.

Because of professors’ timely requests, twice as many students have participated in the university’s buy-back program over the last two years.

“The more professors who tell you what books they’re going to use, the more you know what books we can buy back,” Hockensmith said.

Also adding to the efficiency of the operation is a new computer program that enables employees to remain constantly in touch with used-book companies where stock changes by the minute.

“One company won’t give us all we need. We may get 100 used books from eight companies spread over dozens of shipments. It becomes very complicated and labor-intensive,” said Hockensmith, who praised staff members for “continually trying to get more and more” used books.

The sale of used books does have its limits. For instance, some fields such as the sciences often require updated editions each year. The bookstore also is required to purchase the latest edition of a book requested by professors, said Hockensmith.

But there are still many courses where students are well-served by buying a used copy of the latest edition.

The campus’s 65 percent used-book rate is among the top in the Northeast where, on average, 33 percent to 40 percent of the books sold at two- and four-year institutions are previously owned, said Paul Cummings, who represents one of UM’s suppliers and was on hand Tuesday to help with customer service.

“UM is aggressive trying to get used books,” he added.

In an ideal situation, students would save both by purchasing used books and by selling them back to the university. For example, a student could pay $75 for a used book that costs $100 new. At the end of the semester the book could be sold back to the university for $50. The book ends up costing the student $25.

This year Hockensmith hopes to save students $1.5 million, up from $1.2 million last year.

More than 95 percent of students prefer used books, according to a survey by the bookstore.

The bright marker the previous owner used to highlight passages can be “distracting, but not a big deal,” said James Hill, a junior majoring in economics, who picked up a book that cost $122 new and $92 used.

“Every little bit helps,” he said.