Bookstore takes on new look and accommodations
The Utah State University Bookstore continues to celebrate its grand re-opening after being completely remodeled over the summer.
“The last time the bookstore was remodeled was back in the early ’70s,” said Debbie Spackman, bookstore customer service manager.
The students who go in and out of the bookstore every day can now take advantage of its new look and accommodations, including an office products ordering window, larger area and quicker lines.
“It’s nice,” sophomore Megan Wiseman said. “It’s a lot brighter and more open.”
Construction began in the middle of March and finished Aug. 1. The bookstore was stripped down to the concrete, and everything from tile to lighting to carpet was re-done.
“The displays are better and you can find things easier,” Spackman said. “Our goal is to support the university by supplying educational material for the students and faculty.”
The 150 bookstore employees can better serve customers the first few weeks of the school year, since four new cash registers were added to the previous 12 to create faster lines. The computer solutions department was moved to the front of the store.
“It looks a lot more professional and high class,” said Karen Ekins, a junior majoring in graphic design. “It also looks more like an actual store than it did before.”
The same policies used before the remodeling will apply, with the exception that, after the first few weeks, returns will be done outside the bookstore.
David Hansen, bookstore director, said, “Our bookstore is a self-funded auxiliary of the university, and we have been saving for years to remodel.”
The remodeling of the north bookstore completes phase one of three phases included in the entire remodeling of the bookstore. Phase two will consist of remodeling the south bookstore. Phase three is the remodeling of its administrative and accounting offices. These are scheduled to be completed in the near future.
A grand re-opening celebration was held Aug. 14 in the basement of the Taggart Student Center. Hansen and Paul Sampson, assistant vice president for Administrative Services, spoke. Representatives of the Cache Chamber of Commerce were present for the ribbon cutting.
Aside from textbooks, the bookstore supplies Aggie apparel, gifts, office and school supplies, computers and computer accessories. The bookstore will remain open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday during the fall and spring semesters.
The National Association of College Stores ranked the USU Bookstore as the 45th largest in volume in the nation.