Teachers, secretaries and others involved in ordering books at The University of Memphis took a few minutes to tour the shelves at the University Bookstore last Wednesday. They made sure all of their books had been ordered while enjoying refreshments offered by Rodney Merriwether, the bookstore’s manager.
“We’re giving them a chance to ask questions, and letting them know if any of the books will be coming in late so they will know what to tell their students,” Merriwether said.
Complaints arose last semester when students found empty shelves where their textbooks should have been, even after teachers had requested that the bookstore order more books — and fast.
This semester, Merriwether hopes to have covered all the bases before the first day of classes.
“We think we have everything ordered, and the books that aren’t here are on their way. Most should be here by the time classes start,” Merriwether said.
The complaints came at a bad time for Barnes and Noble, the leaseholder of the bookstore’s vendor, because of the pending end of their lease this upcoming June. A 14-person committee was formed last semester to decide on their recommendation of either Barnes and Noble or Follett, the only other bidder, for the new lease. The committee will announce their decision sometime next week, according to Assistant Vice President of Business and Finance John Cothern.
However, according to Cothern, details of the offers made by the two bidders cannot be released until the award has been made to one of the two companies.
“The committee is delaying making a decision until after the spring book rush,” Cothern said.
The efforts of the bookstore’s manager and staff to repair its image have been positive so far for some. One administrator, who preferred not to be named, said the “open house” for the staff was “a great public relations tool.”
Cheree Mason, a junior biology major, said she has never had any problems with the University Bookstore.
“It’s convenient for me and has everything I need,” Mason said.
Some teachers and students are still skeptical of the assurances of the bookstore to have better service this semester.
Biology major Jeffrey Lightfoot said he only buys his books at the Tiger Bookstore.
“The prices are better and they carry everything I need,” Lightfoot said. His ‘Introduction to Technology’ class was only one of many classes without books almost halfway through last semester.
“We had to postpone tests, and the content couldn’t come from the book because half the students didn’t have them,” Lightfoot said.
Cothern said there is a clause in the lease agreement which allows the bookstore operators 30 to 60 days to correct a problem before the lease is canceled.
Students who cannot find what they need on campus often patronize the Tiger Bookstore, which is not affiliated with The University. Co-manager Marvell Bond said sales increased in the Tiger Bookstore this year, but he could not contribute the increase to any one factor.
“People have been telling us they couldn’t find what they needed in the school bookstore for as long as I’ve been here — 20 years,” Bond said.
