On a college campus, one doesnt have to walk far to find students weighed down by textbooks. It would be impossible to pass the majority of USF classes without purchasing the required textbook, but what happens to these books when the class is over?
Selling textbooks back to stores at a fraction of the original price isnt always an option, and many are refused due to overstocking and new editions. The Oracle has provided creative ways for students to use their old textbooks and hardcover books to decorate the home and to store electronics.

Book Planter
What You Need:
– hardcover book
– ruler
– pencil
– X-Acto knife
– medium paintbrush
– parchment paper or plastic bag
– white glue
– 1-2 succulent plants
– 1 cup potting soil
1 cup small pebbles
1. Use the paintbrush to evenly coat the outer edges of the books
pages with a thin layer of glue. This will keep the pages in place,
making the cutting process easier. Let dry.

2. Open the book to the first page and use the ruler to trace a
4 x 4 square over the middle of the page. Experiment with the size of
the square, but try to keep some of the text visible.

3. Cut through the square with an X-Acto knife. Press down firmly
with the knife to cut through a few pages at a time. Remove squares
and repeat the process until there is a 1.5 inch hole in the book.

4. Line the hole with parchment paper or a plastic grocery bag. This
will keep moisture from the plants from invading the rest of the book.

5. Take one or two succulent plants and place them into the hole.

Pack soil tightly around the roots of the plants. Fill most of the hole
with soil but leave a little room at the top for brightly colored pebbles.

6. Cut the parchment paper/plastic bag so that it is below the
surface of the pebbles and out of sight.

Electronic Device Holder
What You Need:
– hardcover book
– white glue
– X-Acto knife
– plastic wrap
– paintbrush
– ruler
pencil

1. Use plastic wrap to protect the front cover and first 10 pages of the book.

2. Use a paintbrush to coat the outer edges of the book with glue. Place something heavy on the
book to keep all of the pages stuck together. Let dry.

3. Using the ruler, measure the size of the electronic device and trace out these measurements
onto the 11th page of the book. Make sure to leave room for error.

4. Cut out the inside of the book with an X-Acto knife. Make sure to cut about 2 inches deep so
that the device can fit inside the closed book.

5. After the book has been hollowed, use the paintbrush to apply more glue to the inside walls
and edges. Let dry.

Invisible Bookshelf
What You Need:
– hardcover book
– 5x 1 Metal L-bracket
– X-Acto knife
– large wood screws
ruler
– pencil
– white glue
screwdriver

1. Measure the back page of the book lengthwise to find its halfway point. Mark the point
and place the first hole of the L-bracket over the mark.

2. Trace the outline of the L-bracket onto the book.

3. Use the X-Acto knife to cut the outline of the L-bracket out of just enough pages so that
the L bracket can fit in securely.

4. Once the bottom of the L-bracket is inside, close the book and cut a small opening into
the side of the book. This secures the book against the L-bracket.

5. Open the back of the book again and cover the inside of the back cover with glue. Close
the book, cover it with heavy objects and let dry overnight.

6. Screw the protruding part of the L-bracket into the wall with a large wood screw.

7. Make sure the book is secure against the wall and place other books on top of it. Do this
until the part of the L-bracket that is attached to the wall is completely hidden.