The Gadsden State Community College Bookstores on the Wallace Drive and Ayers Campuses are making several changes to accommodate the increase in enrollment during the past year.

Tim Myers, store manager, said that during fall registration students had to stand in lengthy lines to purchase books and supplies. "We just did not have enough cash registers or the technology to assist the students properly," Myers said. The campus bookstores are operated by Barnes and Noble, Inc.

The bookstore on the Ayers Campus is adding an additional cash register to assist students. The Wallace Drive Campus store will have eight cash registers located in the open lobby in Inzer Hall immediately outside the existing bookstore and a "Help Center" where students will be able to receive assistance from a staff member. The "Help Center" is now serving as the main location for the book buy-back program that allows students to return books at the end of the semester for a graduated cash refund. A message board has also been installed which will inform students as to which books are not currently available to prevent them from waiting in line for books that are being re-ordered.

In addition to these changes, students who receive financial aid will be allowed to pre-order books online for the first time during spring semester registration. "Previously this option was only available for credit card purchases. This new service will offer the opportunity for more students to order their books early," Myers said. He stated that students are encouraged to participate in the online pre-order and those who do will be able to skip the long lines altogether. A pre-order location has been set up outside Meadows Library on the Wallace Drive Campus and a designated area at the Ayers Campus store where the student's entire order will be packaged and ready for pick up. Financial aid and scholarship pre-orders may be picked up the first day of class—January 7, 2010. Prepaid credit card orders may be picked up prior to the beginning of the semester. Students may click on the "Order your books online from the College bookstore" link when they complete their registration or visit http://www.gadsdenstate.edu/bookstore.html to place book orders.

"The staff and I are very excited about the changes and hope to help the students get their supplies in a timely manner," Myers said. "With the increased amount of registers, pre-orders and the temporary bookstore staff we should cut wait times in half." The Wallace Drive Campus bookstore will also open Saturday, January 9, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to further serve students.

The bookstore and the college will assess these changes after the spring semester has begun in an effort to constantly improve service to our students. For more information about the Gadsden State Bookstores contact Tim Myers at (256) 546-3334.