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Bookstore Event Celebrates Expansion
University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd, Jr. welcomes executives of Follett Higher Education Group to campus Wednesday, Sept. 19, as they share plans for the future of the UK Bookstore. An open house was held at the Student Center bookstore from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Todd spoke at 11 a.m.
Follett Higher Education Group pledged major structural renovations, sweeping modifications to services, and expanded resources when it signed a 10-year contract to assume management of the Student Center facility on July 1, 2007. The contract included an option for one five-year renewal.
At the time, Thomas Christopher, president of the Follett Higher Education Group, said, "We are very proud of being selected to operate the University of Kentucky Bookstore. We will use all of our resources to provide the UK campus with a bookstore in which everyone can take great pride."
Kieran Keenan, Follett vice president for sales and operations, and Richard Goodpastor, Follett regional manager, are scheduled to attend the open house.
Ben Crutcher, associate vice president of Auxiliary Services, said, "Operating 761 bookstores, 300 of which have been recently renovated or expanded, Follett brings extensive experience in university bookstore operations to UK. By using a mature Web application in conjunction with a new campus storefront, Follett is well positioned with a sound business plan for the future."
According to Follett officials, the UK Bookstore will receive the following structural renovations:
- Expansion to an overall 23,138 square footage of retail shopping space
- Renovation to include a General Book Information Counter and expansions in all departments
- Re-design of the Student Center interior entrance
- Addition of an exterior entrance and plaza on the Avenue of Champions
- Expansion of Nike Shop Clothing & Gifts departments
- Addition of textbook shelving
Changes to services will include:
- Integration with campus systems through the Booknow program, making it possible for students to order books when they register for classes
- Longer operating hours to cover high traffic times, including book rush and special events
- The ability to special order any general book titles or reference titles as well as clothing and gifts
- Access to more used textbooks and the ability to search on demand for any used textbook titles using Follett's database of used textbook inventory
- The addition of special sections for books published by the University Press of Kentucky, UK faculty and local authors
- National author signings on a regular basis
Follett Higher Education Group of Oak Brook, Ill., is the leading provider of bookstore services and the foremost supplier of used books in North America. Follett services four million students and over 375,000 faculty members through more than 760 stores. More than 1,600 independent campus stores receive Follett's wholesale services.
Located in the Student Center addition for 25 years, the bookstore was at first self-operated by UK staff, Follett then managed it under contract from July 1, 1984, until June 30, 1996, when Wallace's Book Stores assumed operations. Kennedy Book Store managed the UK Bookstore from July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2007.
VISION:
Auxiliary Services will provide services and facilities to the University of Kentucky community to assist UK in becoming one of the nation's 20 best public research universities.
MISSION:
The mission of Auxiliary Services is to provide a variety of services that support a living and learning environment fostering personal, professional and academic growth for the University community.
GOALS:
- Improve the services provided by Auxiliary Services to the University community.
- Improve Campus Housing facilities to provide an environment conducive to student success.
- Improve the climate for diversity in Auxiliary Services.
- Maintain high occupancy levels in Campus Housing.
STRATEGIC PLAN:
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