At the Associated Student Government meeting on Oct. 20, plans for an upcoming vaccine clinic were discussed, as well as Auxiliary Director Paul Miller introducing the new bookstore management system.
At the start of the 2024 spring semester, City College campus store will be under new management.
“We simply do not have enough funds,” Miller said.
Miller stated that for the past four years, City College has struggled to keep up with the high demand for textbooks and, in turn, pay for enough employees to maintain the bookstore. In desperate need for financial backing and a more efficient system, City College is turning to the Follett Corporation.
Follett is a business that supplies textbooks and other resources to over 1,100 universities nationwide. The corporation provides two options for colleges looking for partnership; buying out the bookstore from the college, or solely gain control of textbook operations. Miller shared that the City College has opted to only have Follet take over the textbooks division. In California, 58 colleges have allowed Follet to take over their textbook division.
Miller states that he and City College pride themselves on being like a “small business in a small town.” Miller stated that if City College were to completely give ownership of the bookstore to Follett, that feeling would be lost.
For students, not much will change. Only some textbooks will be offered at a slightly lower price than formerly marked, and some limited edition textbooks will also be readily available due to the extensive resources Follett has. Follett will also provide a secure financial infrastructure that will allow City College to keep current faculty members employed, instead of being forced to make employee budget cuts.
Separate from the new Follett system, Miller announces that as director he plans to revitalize the bookstore by turning it into a hub for student life. The small Starbucks located on the first floor will be expanded to offer a wider selection of drinks and snacks to accommodate high student demand. Miller also wishes to renovate various extra spaces in the bookstore into study rooms, similar to those located in the Luria Library.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24, City College will be hosting a vaccine clinic sponsored by Albertsons Pharmacy. Pharmacists and nurses will be located in the Campus Center, room 223, to administer both flu and COVID-19 shots. The clinic is open to all students and faculty. It is requested that participants show up with their K-number and insurance. If a student does not have insurance the school is equipt to cover the cost. Sign ups are available online via QR code, and walk-ups are also available.
The ASG will meet again Friday Oct. 27.
Correction: Oct. 24, 2023
An earlier version of this story misstated the area of City College that will be under new management. The City College campus store will be under new management, not the City College library. The Channels regrets the error.
