The campus bookstores have transitioned to a fully virtual model, closing the physical locations at the Rome and Cartersville campuses.
The shift, which took place during the summer of 2024, has prompted mixed reactions from faculty and students, with concerns about shipping fees and delays.
Jamie Petty, Vice President of Finance and Administration, outlined ongoing issues with the virtual bookstore’s supplier, Textbook Brokers.
In an email dated September 3, Petty noted, “We are currently working on pulling everything together for an ‘after action’ type review. This review is necessary to ensure the information provided is accurate and to identify whether problems were caused by our systems or the bookstore provider.”
Jessica Lindberg, Dean of the School of Humanities, expressed concerns about the virtual bookstore’s impact.
“Previously, students could pick up rented books and return them at physical locations,” Lindberg said. “Now, they have to pay for shipping both ways, which adds extra costs.”
She also pointed out challenges specific to her department. “We’ve tried to keep materials under $100, which means they are almost always going to be paying for shipping,” Lindberg said. “Art students, for example, have faced high shipping costs for oversized items like art kits. One student paid $40 for shipping.”
She noted that this is a significant shift from the previous system where students could pick up materials the same day.
Ainsley Howard, a student, discussed her challenges with the new system. “I ordered my textbook in July, but it arrived two months into the semester,” Howard said. “If I couldn’t download the textbook online, I would have been in trouble.”
Howard explained that while her textbook cost $49.95, meaning she didn’t pay a shipping fee, the overall experience was less than ideal.
“The website told me I needed to return the textbook by mailing it to Dalton, Georgia,” she said. “This extra step is something I wouldn’t have had with a physical store. I would have preferred to return it in person if there were any issues.”
Howard also noted her initial disappointment with the bookstore’s transition to a virtual model. “I was not exactly enthusiastic about losing the option to visit a brick-and-mortar store,” she said.
Dean Lindberg noted the impact of the bookstore’s closure on the campus community. She expressed regret that the loss of a physical store limits opportunities for spontaneous purchases of merchandise.
“It’s sad that students and parents can’t buy GHC merchandise on a whim anymore,” she said.
Additionally, she pointed out that students no longer have a convenient place to pick up essential supplies. “If you get a headache, you can’t buy Advil. If you need a pencil or a notebook, there is nowhere to do that on campus now.”
With the transition to a fully virtual bookstore model now complete, both students and faculty are adjusting to the changes. Efforts are ongoing to enhance the virtual bookstore experience.
Students can access the bookstore online for a comprehensive range of textbooks and materials. To keep costs down, it provides options for rentals, digital formats, new and used textbooks.
