Wright State University Bookstore | Photo by Natalie Cunningham | The Wright State Guardian
The bookstore is doing their best to reduce their campus footprint as the start of classes gets closer by encouraging students to buy their textbooks online and have them shipped.
Prizes for online orders
“We’re really pushing for people to order online and have it shipped to them. The president really wants to reduce the footprint on campus,” said Shannon Center, the assistant manager at the bookstore. “That’s our goal and that is what we are urging people to do.”
As an incentive to encourage students to order online, the bookstore is doing a series of giveaways and prizes with random online orders leading up to the start of classes.
Students may receive Raider gear or bookstore merchandise free of charge. A few lucky students may even be randomly chosen to have their entire book order paid for by the bookstore.
“It’s kind of like a thank you for helping us reduce our on campus footprint,” said Center.
Changes to the bookstore
In order to adhere to university coronavirus guidelines, the bookstore is making a few changes to ensure the health and safety of all students and customers.
The bookstore now has a capacity limit of 40 customers, plexiglass in front of all the registers and six foot distancing markers on the floors.
They have also temporarily closed the textbook isles and instead have a line set up towards the middle of the store for students to pick up and order books.
“Normally we have the textbook Isles open for the first couple weeks of courses but we actually have everything blocked off so we can better control keeping things sanitized,” said Center.
Students will see limited store hours as well. During the first week of classes, the bookstore will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“We have limited hours that we are open to the public so that people can come in and they are welcome to shop and get their textbooks,” said Center
For additional store hours, students can visit the bookstore website by clicking here >>>
Schedule an appointment
The bookstore is offering a new service this upcoming semester where students will have the capability to schedule an appointment before the bookstore opens or after they are closed. This will allow students to shop or pick up a book during a time of lower capacity.
This is available to all students, whether they are immune compromised or simply feel more comfortable being around less people.
“It will be a clickable link that students can access or copy and paste and then when they log on it will let them choose what day they plan to come in the store and what time they want to come in,” said Center
Curbside pickup
Currently, if students want their order brought out to them, they must visit the bookstore’s website which will direct them to email and ask for curbside pickup.
The bookstore is working on a new and improved app for curbside pickup that will make the process easier for students and for the bookstore.
“That’s [the app] is new. It’s coming so we are hoping it will be helpful for all those students especially for back to school in the next couple of weeks,” said Elizabeth Russel, bookstore manager.
Additional tips
When students are ready to purchase their books, they should remember that earlier is better.
“The sooner you order the better. It puts you on that list to have a higher potential of getting that used book, that used price,” said Russel. “We accept returns up to the seventh day of classes. Even if you are ordering early and you get to class and your professor is like, ‘Hey we won’t be using this book,’ you have until that first week of classes to send those books back and get a refund.”
Students should not hesitate to ask questions either.
“They shouldn't be afraid to reach out if they have a question,” said Center. “This whole thing is new for everyone and everyone has different comfort levels. I would rather answer their question and make them feel comfortable then have them sit there and not know. “
The bookstore highly recommends ordering online, but has made accommodations for those who still wish to shop in person.
