By Leah Bosworth/ne news editor
NE Campus’ bookstore moved to a temporary location in the NSTU Galley adjacent to the cafeteria.
The relocation kicked off the bookstore renovation process expected to be finished in early August, said NE director of facilities Kirby Chadwell.
“It will be a modernization and update of the facilities and should give a lot more flexibility to operations of the bookstore,” he said.
Students can expect the interim bookstore in the Galley to be up and running after Feb. 15, Follett district manager of TCC bookstores Colleen Baker said. Bookstore employees have been packing and organizing items for storage since Feb. 10 to set up and arrange the temporary location, she said.
NE Campus Bookstore employee and student Hannah Lawrence said she feels confident the staff can handle all the packing and reorganizing.
“It gets a little confusing, but we have great managers and a lot of brainpower,” she said.
The provisional bookstore will downsize to a space that’s 625 square feet but will continue to provide students with textbooks, Scantrons and a limited variety of office supplies and snacks.
“The basics will be available,” Baker said.
The remodel will consist of two phases, Chadwell said.
He said the first phase will eliminate obstructions within the bookstore to open up the space and to set the foundation for the cosmetic renovations. The wall of cubbies and the turnstiles located in the bookstore’s entrance will be removed along with the obsolete staircase situated behind the cubbies.
During the second phase, Follett will take over and complete the cosmetic work, said Follett director of campus relations Elio Distaola. The walls will get new coats of paint, and the carpeting and flooring will be renewed. Follett will also install all new fixtures in the bookstore — this will include cash registers and shelving.
“It’ll be warm and open without as many intrusions,” Baker said.
Follett assumed operations of the bookstore in October 2006, and the company believes the NE facility could benefit from some revamping.
Students will have more space and more choices, and their overall shopping experience should be improved, Distaola said.
NE student Alyssa Gor said it would be nice to get rid of the maze-like feel of the current bookstore.
“I definitely would like to see more efficiency in the register lines,” she said.
NE student Miranda Cunningham said it would be convenient if the bookstore had some type of an express lane for those who are just grabbing a single item like a drink or a Scantron.
“I’ve been late to a class twice because of line congestion in the bookstore,” she said.
