How free textbook schemes and book banks (banco de libros) work

Terms used

• Banco de libros — A banco de libros is a school's shared pool of textbooks that pupils borrow each year and return at the end.
• Concertada — A concertada school is privately run but publicly funded, so it usually takes part in public schemes.
• Empadronamiento — Empadronamiento is your registration as a resident at your town hall, often needed to qualify for local schemes.
• AMPA — The AMPA is a school's parents' association, which often runs the book bank.
• Secretaría — The secretaría is the school's administrative office, where you enrol and ask about procedures.

Key rules

• Region: Each region sets its own scheme, stages, conditions and deadlines, so check yours.
• Stages: Primaria and ESO are usually covered; bachillerato is the stage least often covered.
• Joining: In many loan schemes you join at enrolment, but aid usually needs a separate application.
• Returns: Books in loan schemes go back to the school at year end, and lost or damaged ones may cost you.

Schemes, stages, dates and penalties change by region and year, so confirm them with your region's education department and your child's school.

Your region decides, so check it first

Most regions run some kind of free textbook, book-loan or grant scheme. Names, funding and stages differ from region to region. Madrid has Accede, Valencia has the Xarxa Llibres, Castilla y León has Releo Plus, and Andalucía and Galicia use a cheque-book system. Cataluña relies more on school book funds run by schools and parents' associations, plus aid. Other regions have their own programmes or aid. Details change, so treat any scheme name as a search term, not a promise.

How to find your region's scheme

1. Search the website of your region's education department (consejería de educación). Try "ayudas libros de texto", "gratuidad de libros" or "banco de libros", plus the year.
2. Ask the school secretaría. It knows the local procedure.
3. Ask the AMPA (the parents' association). It often runs the book bank.
4. Your town hall's education office can also help.

Which children are covered

Most schemes cover primaria and ESO. Some add infantil (ages 3 to 6), bachillerato or FP Básica. Others cover only certain years or only low-income families. Bachillerato is the stage least often covered.

Which schools take part

Public schools are included. Most regions also include concertada schools (privately run, publicly funded) for the stages they teach. Some include them only for aid, not for loan banks. Private schools without public funding are normally excluded. Ask your school which applies.

Conditions

Some schemes are open to every pupil in a publicly funded school. Others are income-tested, with a family income limit set by the regional government. Typical conditions are:

• Your child is enrolled in a public or concertada school in the region.
• You are registered as resident there (empadronamiento).
• For income-tested aid, your family income is below the limit.
• For loan schemes, you return the books in good condition and take part in the school's book bank.

How to join and when

Families usually apply through the school or the regional education portal during a call (convocatoria) set by the region. In many loan schemes you join automatically or at enrolment, and the school manages the bank. Aid applications tend to fall between spring and early autumn, often around enrolment or from June to September. Some regions open a late window in September or October, or accept late applications from pupils who enrol after the main period. Ask the school for your region's exact dates, because missing the window can mean paying for books yourself.

Returning the books

In loan schemes your child returns the books to the school at the end of the year, usually in June. Normal wear is accepted. You may have to replace or pay for books that are lost or badly damaged. Not returning books can cost you your place in the scheme next year or mean buying the books. Pupils are often asked to label the books and not write in them. Ask about the rules before the school year starts.

The checklist, documents list and timeline below cover the practical steps.

Timeline and deadlines

• Join the loan scheme when you enrol your child, since many schools manage this at enrolment: around enrolment, roughly April to July

• Apply for book aid through the school or the regional education portal: usually June to September

Documents you need

• The family's ID, shown with the application form, which is online or on paper depending on the region.

• Proof of your child's enrolment in a public or concertada school, which the school can give you.

• Proof of registered residence (empadronamiento) in the region, which your town hall issues, where the scheme asks for it.

• Income documents, or your consent for the administration to check your tax data, only for income-tested aid.

Checklist

• Find out which scheme your region runs, whether free books, a loan bank or aid.

• Check that your child's stage is covered, as most schemes cover primaria and ESO.

• Confirm that your child's school is included, whether public or concertada.

• Check the conditions: registered residence in the region, and the income limit if the aid is income-tested.

• Ask the school secretaría whether joining is automatic at enrolment or needs a separate application.

• Note the application window for your region and apply before it closes.

What to watch out for

• Not returning the books: If your child does not return the books at the end of the school year, usually in June, you can lose your place in the scheme next year or have to buy the books. Ask the school for the return date and hand the books back on time.

• Lost or damaged books: Books that are lost or badly damaged may have to be replaced or paid for. Normal wear is accepted. Label the books, ask your child not to write in them and keep them in good condition.

What if my child's book list does not match the free scheme

Ask the school before you buy anything. If the school's list names books that differ from the ones in the free scheme, do not buy replacements yet. The school may expect your child to use the scheme's books.

Who to ask

Start with the school's administrative office, the head of studies, or whoever runs the free textbook scheme. That is often the scheme coordinator or the head teacher. Ask in writing or by email so you have a record.

Useful questions:

• Which edition will the teacher actually use in class?
• Will the school accept the scheme's book, or supply the material your child needs?
• If a book is not in the scheme, is it really required?

Schools generally may not change textbooks for a minimum of four school years. A list that names a different edition from the scheme's book is therefore worth questioning.

If the school does not fix it

1. Take the problem to the parents' association (AMPA). Other families are probably affected too.
2. Send a written complaint to your region's education delegation or to the education inspectorate, which supervises schools.

Keep the school's list, the scheme's book list and your messages. They show what was asked of you.

Until you have an answer

Hold off on the books in question. Buy only items nobody disputes, such as notebooks and stationery. If the school insists on a particular book, ask for that in writing before you pay.

Frequently asked questions

Does my concertada school take part in the book scheme?

Yes, in most regions concertada schools (publicly funded private schools) are included for the stages they teach. Some regions include them only for aid and not for the loan bank. Private schools with no public funding are normally left out.

Can I still apply if I enrol my child late?

Often yes, because some regions open a second window in September or October or accept late applications from pupils who enrol after the main period. Loan schemes usually tie joining to enrolment, so ask the school secretaría as soon as your child is enrolled.

Is bachillerato covered by free book schemes?

Bachillerato is the stage least often covered, so do not count on it. Most schemes cover primaria and ESO, and a few add infantil, bachillerato or FP Básica. Ask your regional education department about your child's stage.

Where can I find my own region's book scheme rules?

Start with your regional education department's website (consejería de educación) and search for 'ayudas libros de texto', 'gratuidad de libros' or 'banco de libros' plus the year. Then ask the school secretaría and the AMPA (parents' association), which often runs the book bank.