What is the best way to get or request a relatively new textbook? (programming.dev)

submitted 6 days ago by plankton@programming.dev to c/piracy@lemmy.dbzer0.com

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They are not on Anna's Archive or on MaM. They are available for digital purchase from SpringerPub or Amazon.

Is there a different tracker for textbooks and reference materials?

How likely is it that a request will be fulfilled. Would someone need to buy the book themself and upload it?

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[-] janus2@lemmy.zip 43 points 6 days ago

Not a perfect solution but when I needed specific obscure and/or new editions for coursework, I'd go check out my university library's copy and photograph all the pages I needed

it's common for universities to keep a reserve copy (or a few) of any books required by courses. access may be limited (e.g. at my school you could check them out only 2 hours at a time). If your library has a book scanning station your life will be easier so ask if they have one.

One time after class I ran into a classmate trying to do the exact same thing, so we ended up taking turns sharing scan photos to save ourselves time the rest of the semester. Be sure to share the love with any fellow ultra-broke classmates

happy sailing 🏴‍☠️

[-] elvith@feddit.org 10 points 6 days ago

I was so pumped back then, when I learned where the book scanner in my university's library was located. Although I never needed it for class itself, when you need to write some papers and needed some literature - just go to the library, get the book, put it on the scanner, copy all chapters you need and then rinse and repeat with the next book. No need to carry a fuckton of paper home to cite from or work for hours in the library. A single pen drive is enough for that.

[-] fonix232@fedia.io 6 points 6 days ago

You'll also find that LLMs are actually quite useful in putting together scripts that will take all the photographed pages, and convert them to a proper EPUB format (using OCR, direct extraction of images, etc.), reducing the overall size and improving quality.

Visual models can even create custom CSS for you, and if there are graphs and such, LaTeX can be utilised as well.

All the tools exist separately and LLMs can write that binding glue easily.

Worth a try especially if the textbook is (regular) text heavy.

[-] cyberwolfie@lemmy.ml 7 points 5 days ago

Is it essential that you get the 3rd edition? 1st and 2nd are on Library Genesis+ (from 2017 and 2021 respectively)

Otherwise, my university had some deal with Springer that allowed the purchase of a softcover book for 25€ (I think it increased to 50€ later), but also free access for the online edition (though not necessarily the whole book in a single PDF, but each chapter separately). Have you checked for similar deals at your university's library?

[-] plankton@programming.dev 2 points 3 days ago

Unfortunately yes, the version is important. I will check out the library, although we have usually needed to purchase online editions. They are cheaper than the physical textbook, but not by much

[-] banana@communick.news 23 points 6 days ago

Text books are often published separately in Southeast Asia and sold for much cheaper than in the west. They are often paper back and printed on thinner paper but the content is the same. Check out Abebooks or BookFinder.com

[-] Tehdastehdas@piefed.social 4 points 6 days ago

There are three torrents at torrentdownloads.pro .

[-] plankton@programming.dev 4 points 6 days ago

Are you sure?

I do not see any results under 'Torrent Search Results'.

I see three links under 'Fast Search Results', but they are ads and uBlock Origin blocked them.

[-] Tehdastehdas@piefed.social 5 points 6 days ago

https://www.torrentdownloads.pro/search/?search=clinical+radiation

The first ‘Torrent Search Result’ is always an auto-generated lie, don't click.

[-] plankton@programming.dev 3 points 3 days ago

I think those books are different textbooks with a similar name. Those torrents were added in 2020 or earlier, whereas this textbook was released this year.