UAF partners with Barnes & Noble College

After a successful request for proposal process, UAF has begun a new partnership with Barnes & Noble College to operate the UAF Bookstore. The Bookstore will be closed from Oct. 30 to Nov. 8 so management can smoothly transfer from Follett Higher Education, which has operated the university’s bookstore since 2009. To prepare for the transition, Follett currently has select items discounted 20-75%.

Barnes & Noble College, a Barnes & Noble Education company, will take over management of course materials, on-site retail and online operations as of Nov. 1, 2023, under a five-year contract. BNC operates more than 770 campus bookstores and school-branded e-commerce sites, serving more than six million college students and faculty nationwide.

"We are very excited to partner with the ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø as its new bookstore operator," said Jonathan Shar, president of Barnes & Noble College. "We look forward to providing a wide range of academic solutions that support UAF's mission of 'excellence through transformative experiences' and offering a seamless retail experience that will help to drive success for UAF students."

Among other changes, BNC is expected to:

  • Increase services and merchandise offerings to allow for more selection for faculty and students
  • Introduce a fully comprehensive textbook rental program, which will result in lower-priced options for students and give faculty flexibility in what materials they adopt to use in their courses
  • Give faculty access to the market-leading BNC adoption and insights portal, which allows them to research and submit affordable course material selections
  • Refresh of the bookstore location, creating a different atmosphere

It won't be immediate with the tight transition timeline, but over time an improved variety of UAF merchandise will be made available in the store. Patience is appreciated as BNC develops a more diverse product assortment.

Stay tuned for more information about textbook and course material orders for Spring 2024 and upcoming opportunities to engage with BNC on campus. Learn more about Barnes & Noble College at .