The More Things Change...

I stopped by the University of Denver Bookstore yesterday afternoon to see what changes have been made now that DU changed the management of the store from Follett Higher Education Group to Barnes and Noble College. One of DU's goals in making the change was that Barnes and Noble would refresh the bookstore's environment "to encourage community and social interaction in an upscale retail setting." Back when the university first began to consider outsourcing the store, the bookstore put together a proposal to do just that, and keep the store independent. But DU outsourced it anyway, and laid off all the employees, including me, who had worked there for almost 30 years.

And what did I think of the newly remodeled bookstore? Follett did a remodel when they took over back in 2012, and to me the store looked virtually unchanged yesterday, with a heavy emphasis on gifts and clothing, and much less on books. As for all the community and social interaction, it consisted of two employees at the front counter and a couple of customers looking at the merchandise. I know it is summer, the slowest time of the year, but when classes do start again, where is this community and social interaction going to take place? In the clothing aisle? By the snack counter? If the bookstore had remained independent, the plan was to put in a cafe and gathering spot for faculty, students, and staff to interact. We might have had author events and even live music. But it was not to be. As the famous saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same.