The way students buy textbooks on the Lincoln campus is about to change, but not for a while.
On Monday, May 7, representatives from the Southeast Community College bookstore visited the Lincoln Student Senate meeting, and manager Pam Sedlacek explained the idea of what has been labeled a virtual bookstore.
“Students will order books from a kiosk,” she began.
After the order is placed, a representative of the bookstore will present the book for the student to inspect and buy.
“You can order from your own computers as well,” she noted.
These kiosks will be located on all Lincoln campuses, noting that there will be one or two in the student center, one at the Continuing Education Center and one at Energy-Square.
“It will be arranged a lot different…you’re telling us what you need,” added Pedlacek.
She also noted that the process will be streamlined, citing that when a student enters his or her student ID into the kiosk, the system finds his or her class schedule, complete with section required texts, removing the ambiguity of having to find the proper section’s textbooks.
When the senate voiced concern for students less technologically inclined, Sedlacek assured that “the customer service would still be there,” and students will still be able to present their schedule to any bookstore employee for assistance.
Another concern that was brought up was the quality of the textbook chosen for the student, particularly on used books. Sedlacek addressed these concerns, stating that “When somebody’s pulling a book, they’re going to pick the best one they see…(If you don’t like it) just tell us ‘I don’t like this one, please get one with less highlights.’”
The bookstore itself will be arranged very differently. “It would be completely closed off,” Sedlacek asserted. “You wouldn’t be able to roam the aisles…it will reduce shoplifting.”
The staff got the idea from Iowa Western Community College.
“SCC went up to Iowa Western and saw it in action. So now we’re coming to the students and ask ‘what do you think?’” Sedlacek explained.
Sedlacek further explained that this would be localized to the Lincoln campuses only. The Beatrice and Milford Campuses will not be participating in the program at this point in time.
“It’s a work in progress,” she commented.
Though the change is meant to streamline the process in addition to prevent shoplifting, this only happens if students use the system before the first day of the quarter.
“You process fifteen hundred students in one day, you’re going to have a line,” Sedlacek commented. She also noted that the current online reserve process will still be in play and will reduce lines significantly.
Sedlacek said the process is in its beginning phase now.
“We’re talking a year at least, a year and a half most likely,” she said.
The bookstore can be found at the Lincoln campus, room D-1 or online at http://sccbookstore.com/