A bookstore with no books?

Students hoping to buy textbooks from the University of Winnipeg bookstore after the middle of the term may have had an unpleasant surprise: no books.

Defying copyright concerns, fourth-year English student Janu Millor Usiskin photocopied sections of a book for one of her full-year classes.

“It was a bit of a surprise to find out they had already sent the book back,” said Millor Usiskin.

I was also too late to buy a copy of the same text that Millor Usiskin photocopied. I resorted to borrowing the book from a classmate.

Mike Clark, the Follett Canada manager of the University of Winnipeg bookstore, says that the shelves seem bare not because the bookstore doesn’t want to keep as many titles on hand as possible, but because of a variety of variables.

“We have to ship unsold books back by the publisher’s time frame for credit, or else we end up with dead stock,” said Clark.

Books from smaller publishers in the United States may only have a three-month return window, while larger or Canadian publishers may offer six or even twelve-month return periods, he notes.

When professors drop off book orders, Follett notifies them of when unsold textbooks will be returned to publishers. Further, Clark adds, Follett sends reminder emails to department heads to share with professors, and in turn, students, as the return date approaches.

Another reason Clark cited for apparently bare shelves is lack of space. While the new bookstore is complete, the rest of the AnX is still under construction. Until then, Clark notes, the bookstore is trying their best to work with the existing shelving and storage space.

Clark understands that not all students can purchase all of their textbooks at the beginning of the term. To accommodate this, Follett is willing to hold books for students if they know they will be buying them later in the term.

Even though it was a goal of bookstore floor staff to let students know that books could be placed on hold, this was the first I’d heard of it. This was news to classmate Millor Usiskin as well. Now that I know, however, I will gladly approach the bookstore staff at the start of the next term should I need to place a book on hold.

For some professors, however, news of this book hold option may have come too late.

“I’m considering going through the Mondragon bookstore,” said Heather Milne, University of Winnipeg English professor.

Clark notes that the bookstore is willing to work with staff and students to make sure they have access to the books they need, as well as help students save money through the buyback and textbook rental options.

“We’re here to do whatever we can to facilitate students’ learning,” said Clark.