Ohio University has changed the way professors provide their textbook information to bookstores, but Follett's University Bookstore doesn't think the change will make much difference.
OU now offers textbook information with its online course offerings, and most recently, the registrar's office began sending bookstores one comprehensive list of required textbooks. Previously, professors or departments passed on their individual textbook information to the bookstores.
The first time we send information to bookstores
they get literally every course offering for the term and any information there said Leona Cibrowski, interim associate registrar.
The Higher Education Opportunity Act in 2008, which prompted these changes, stipulates that colleges and universities give bookstores textbook and enrollment information for each class, as well as the textbooks' ISBN information.
Each day we send an update for things added or changed and classes cancelled
Cibrowski said.
The daily updates sent to bookstores should remove the problem of professors who submit their textbook information late, Cibrowski said.
This change began with Fall Quarter classes this year. At the end of priority registration, the registrar's office sends an e-mail to professors who haven't posted textbook information asking them to do so. The office then sends bookstores the total number of students registered for each class to give them an idea of how many textbooks to order.
The way OU provides bookstores with textbook information is only one step in the process of acquiring books at a competitive price, said Elio Distaola, the director of public and campus relations at Follett Higher Education Group, adding he did not think the new system would cause any significant change.
Employees from Little Professor Book Center and Specialty Books said the change has not caused problems with their textbook systems.
We met with the bookstores; they like the process
Cibrowski said. They feel they got the textbook information in a timely manner
and they liked getting it at the same time rather than getting one and then another.
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Rebecca McKinsey
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