Operation of Bookstore Changing Hands; Bookstore to Be Closed May 28-June 5
The operation of the bookstore on the main campus of Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community & Technical College will be transitioning over the next two weeks from the management of Barnes & Noble to Follett Higher Education Group.
To accommodate this change, the bookstore will be closed from Saturday, May 28, to Sunday, June 5, and will re-open Monday, June 6, under new management.
Most important to note in this transition is that students who still need textbooks for the first summer term, which begins Monday, May 23, should purchase or rent their books before midnight on Wednesday, May 25. In-store textbook rental and online textbook orders will not be available after May 25.The bookstore will continue to operate under Barnes & Noble through Friday, May 27. Students who need to return a textbook for a refund for the first summer term may do so through Friday, May 27.
Follett Higher Education Group was unanimously selected as the top company to operate the campus bookstore by a committee comprised of faculty and staff of FSU and Pierpont and chaired by FSU Associate Provost Christina Lavorata. Follett also operates the bookstores at Marshall University and Glenville State College. Through a Request for Proposal process, major companies submitted proposals to campus. The committee reviewed the proposals; sought input from students, faculty and staff; and ranked the companies.
“Follett Higher Education Group lives and breathes campus bookstores; they are the only business we do. We are focused on students and faculty,” said John Rheault, Regional Manager for Follett.
As part of the 10-year contract with three possible one-year renewals, Follett will provide $15,000 for FSU and Pierpont for student scholarships, and the Falcon Center will receive an additional $100,000 in revenue. The textbook rental program will continue under Follett.
Barnes & Noble has operated the bookstore for the past 10 years under a five-year contract with five one-year renewals, the last of those ending in 2011.
“The campus would like to thank Barnes & Noble for its decade of service to our community,” Porto said.
BookstoreRick PortoBarnes and NobleFollett Higher Education Group
