Bookstore contractor doesn't come through

The beginning of the fall semester has been more hectic than usual with students searching in vain for textbooks at the Co-op Bookstore. Textbooks from both the college and the Conservatory have not been in stock because of problems with a new system for acquiring textbooks.

Students and faculty have become increasingly frustrated with the shortage of books. Many can not understand why the Co-op has been unable to find new avenues to provide books. "It is difficult not having the textbooks as resource when you need it," said college first-year Claire Fitts.

According to General Manger Alison Meyers, acquisitions of books in the past have always been handled by the Co-op directly with a combination of publishers, wholesalers and the National Association of College Stores. The Follet Company also was enlisted to procure used books.

This summer the Co-op decided, with recommendation from other colleges and universities, to form a contract with the consulting group College and University Bookstore Partnering Concepts (CUBPaC).

According to Meyers, there were multiple reasons for the addition of a consultant middleman. "We wanted to improve inventory return, cash flow and return on investment," she said. The past few years have yielded losses for the Co-op, and the change looked quite promising.

Under the terms of contract, the bookstore uses the firm's Textbook Consolidation Program in conjunction with Southeastern Book Company of Maryland. Southeastern was contracted to consolidate the shipping into two delivery periods over the summer.

The Co-op had sent in the requisitions and past lists from professors in a timely manner, according to Meyers.The breakdown was apparently within Southeastern itself. Unfortunately, the Co-op realized too late that the shipments were not going to be in as promised.

To remedy the broken promises on the part of Southeastern Books, the Co-op reinvented the wheel and went back to the original avenues to procure books. Contacting publishers at such a late date and having deliveries overnighted was a labor-intensive process.

"The staff at the bookstore is compressing in about two weeks what would normally be done over the summer," said Meyers. Other measures the Co-op has taken include extending the deadline for textbook returns by a week and posting bulletins for professors and students to special-order books.

The Co-op is considering reverting to it's old ways of buying books. Meyers and her staff are scrambling to compensate for the inconvenience to students and professors.

"The staff appreciate the magnitude of disruption this has caused and thank the students and faculty for their cooperation," Meyers said.