MADISON, Wis. -- The climbing costs of textbooks are convincing some college students to get creative.

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Instead of turning to the Internet to find used textbooks on the cheap, some students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are finding another low-cost option. Some students said the price of textbooks is mind-blowing, WISC-TV reported.

"Last semester, it was about $500," said student Laura Reich. "Yeah, it's painful."

"Thank God my dad's paying for my books," said another, Christie Rutenbeck.

Pat McGowan, who manages the University Bookstore, the UW-Madison's official source for students' course supplies, said that over his years there he has seen the prices skyrocket as publishers try to make money in a market that's become increasingly dominated by used book sales on the Internet.

"Normally, the publishers have to recoup their costs in one semester, or possibly two semesters of selling a book," McGowan said. "(This is) because the used book market with the Internet and with college book stores, like us, is so robust."

Despite the prices that customers see on the shelves, he said the store is committed to keeping costs as low as possible and making sure students have the chance to shop around.

"We're going to try go get a textbook classified going in the store, on our own Web site," he said.

The store also lists all of its prices for the books it sells online so students can search for better deals elsewhere if they desire, he said.

Chris Tiernan organized a textbook consignment store of sorts to help students sell and buy books by cutting out the middle man and undercutting prices at the University Bookstore by 30 percent.

"We've gotten a number of people today who after they've bought their books, they've been like, 'Thank you for putting this on,'" Tiernan said.

The book swap organizers estimate about 1,000 books went up for sale, and the only person who makes any money on the arrangement is the person selling the book, WISC-TV reported. Tiernan said that idea helps cash-strapped students.

"Because of the rising cost of tuition and the rising cost of textbooks, this is just a really great way to unload some of that burden," he said.

Unfortunately for student Ben Wohlleber, he couldn't find what he needed at the sale. Instead, he had to shell out $481.64 at the bookstore instead.

It's reached a point where the students compare the book costs to an entire month's rent. Some said it really eats into the money they try to earn during the summer for the school year.