Kent State Partners with Barnes & Noble to Manage Bookstores
KENT, Ohio — Kent State University has named Barnes & Noble College as the new operator of the Kent State University Bookstore at its eight campuses.
The existing bookstore staff will stay on and transition to new management, which took effect May 18 for the Kent and Trumbull campuses, and will take effect July 6 for all remaining campuses, the university announced Tuesday.
“Kent State University is very excited to partner with Barnes & Noble College,” said Greg Jarvie, Kent State’s vice president for enrollment management and student affairs. “Its national reputation for customer service and its overall knowledge of the college bookstore market bring an unbeatable combination to all of our campuses.”
The selection of Barnes & Noble College will allow the bookstores to offer a variety of course materials, including an in-store and online rental textbook program, an extensive selection of used and new books, as well as digital content through its new Yuzu™ digital platform, the university said.
In addition to a variety of cost-saving textbook options, Kent State bookstores will reflect the university’s brand with an expanded selection of Kent State Golden Flashes logo apparel, snacks and beverages, art supplies, laptops and other technology products.
Barnes & Noble College also will manage Kent State’s online bookstore website. And Kent State faculty will gain access to an online community called FacultyEnlight, a streamlined textbook adoption platform that combines advanced search capabilities with detailed information on course material formats, pricing and reviews by other faculty.
Kent State is one of 24 higher education institutions that Barnes & Noble College partners with in the state of Ohio, including The Ohio State University, the University of Toledo and Case Western Reserve University. Barnes & Noble College operates more than 717 campus stores nationwide.
SOURCE: Kent State University.
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