This paper addresses the issue of funding the purchase of school textbooks in selected European countries. The author first examines basic definitions and concepts relating to the above mentioned issue. Next, he provides brief information about the sources of funding and how they are made available to students in obligatory education in the following countries: Poland, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Island, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]