Barnes & Noble makes pitch to operate university book services

Big changes in bookstore and textbook rental services were promised to Southeast Missouri State University students attending the final forum held by two bidding outside vendors.

Barnes & Noble College, a subsidiary of the book retailer Barnes & Noble, revealed plans to update textbook services during a presentation Friday in Glenn Auditorium.

Ben Dixon, vice president of campus relations for B&N College, said the company would attempt to maintain a rental system similar to that in use at Southeast, but, he said "change is inevitable."

"We have to prepare for what's coming in the future," Dixon said. "Students are always going to need a bookstore, but the needs and products will change, so we have to be able to adjust to those changes."

A major goal of B&N College, Dixon said, is to introduce more digital options to students. If the company is chosen to manage textbook services, he said it would implement its newest software: Nook Study. Not to be confused with the Barnes & Noble e-reader device, Nook Study would be a "tool" incorporated into the university's online learning management system.

"If you purchase an e-book, this software would allow you to use it like a real book," Dixon said. "You could highlight words or make notes in a specific section. Teachers could also access these books and make notes on assigned pages."

Southeast student and bookstore employee Billy Schmitz said he did not believe the transition from paper to digital books would be popular among students.

"It seems like the university is changing just for the sake of change," Schmitz said. "The current [bookstore] staff already orders all the digital stuff and access codes from publishers, so it's not like they [students] can't do that now."

Under the current system, the majority of Southeast students rent textbooks from the university. They are charged a flat rate of $25.94 per course, regardless of the number of texts required for the course.

Under the B&N College "conventional retail model" Dixon said each rented textbook costs 50 percent of the book's purchase price. So a $100 textbook, for example, would be rented for $50.

During a question-and-answer session, rising rental prices dominated student concerns. Schmitz said he failed to see the benefit for students, while other students noted that more competitive prices could be found through other vendors online.

Laura Stock, director of business operations at Southeast, agreed the university already has "a great rental system in place," but she said working with companies like B&N College helps keep the bookstore current.

"We have to prepare for that digital piece that's coming, whether we like it or not," Stock said. "The university only has a limited staff, but these nationwide companies can help us keep up with what's going on."

The Follet Higher Education Group made a presentation Thursday to students.

Stock encouraged students to visit the university's website to complete a survey for each vendor's forum. She said the university will be "closely monitoring the student pulse" as it considers options.

srinehart@semissourian.com

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