Follett announces new textbook rental to come this Fall
Zachary Gragg
Issue date: 5/4/10 Section: Consumer
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The event was facilitated by Jeffrey Davis Cole, a Student Government Association South Campus Representative. Follett had four representatives available for student Q&A, including Richard Stone, the manager of the South Campus bookstore.
During the forum, Follett's panel answered the student questions about the bookstore. In addition, the panel announced a new program, Rent-A-Text, which is designed to save students considerable money on textbooks.
"It will relieve a lot of stress, financially, as far as students are concerned. I think the students will feel it's a fair deal, in their minds, prices will drop significantly," said Cole about the textbook rental program.
Follett is the largest operator of college bookstores in the US and Canada, with locations on five Florida State College at Jacksonville campuses.
According to Follett's official website, in the fall of 2009 seven bookstores participated in their pilot textbook rental program. The results: $2 million in student course material savings and a 97 percent satisfaction rate.
Elio Distaola, director of campus relations for Follett, said that schools can enter into contracts with businesses, like Follett, to run their on-campus bookstore. In turn, the school can be provided expert services and convenient locations for students to purchase their course materials.
Distaola said that Follett's new textbooks are purchased from publishers and then sold with the added profit-margin agreed upon in the contract between Follett and the college. Similarly, used textbooks are discounted by 25 percent to be resold.
Follett is reputed in offering reliable products with a vested interest in the students' benefits. Still, the major problem having been encountered by students is their prices.
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