Student Forums on Next Bookstore Model Launch Thursday
10/03/2023
SLU’s current bookstore contract with Barnes and Noble is set to expire on June 30, 2024.
Many students participated in the survey that was sent to all students in Spring 2023 about bookstore experiences and recommendations about bookstore services, pricing, textbook/materials options and availability, etc. SLU's Bookstore Task Force — which includes faculty, staff, and an SGA representative — has found the responses, and the responses received from SLU faculty and staff via a similar survey, to be very helpful as the University consider its bookstore options going forward.
Later this fall, SLU will solicit bids for the new bookstore/bookseller contract. The Task Force is considering the various bookstore “models” that the University will ask its next bookstore/bookseller partner to use, which primarily differ on how much choice students have to either purchase textbooks and related course materials from the official SLU bookstore and/or purchase them from other outlets, and how those choices affect student costs.
To get additional student input on the “model” of our next bookstore, the Task Force is hosting two open forums next week:
- Thursday, Oct. 5, noon to 1 p.m. in Busch Student Center 351. There is a capacity of 25 and pizza will be served RSVP to attend.
- Wednesday, Oct. 11, 5:30 p.m to 6:30 p.m. in DuBourg Hall, Room 409 the Sinquefield Stateroom. All are welcome.
Note that these will not be sessions designed to address the pros or cons of particular bookstore vendors, or about the particular book/course material services and options for students that the University needs. Instead the Task Force will briefly present some of the options for bookstore models (regardless of vendor) and then solicit student ideas, experiences with, and feedback about those models.
Anyone with bookstore- or bookstore contract-related questions or comments, should contact Associate Provost Steve Sanchez, Ph.D., at x2611 or steven.sanchez@slu.edu.