Textbook Rental Program Coming to the Florida Tech Campus Bookstore

MELBOURNE, FLA.—Beginning in fall 2010, the Florida Institute of Technology Barnes & Noble campus bookstore will give students a new lease on their sometimes budget-focused, hectic lives. For the first time, students have access to a new, multi-channel textbook rental program designed to deliver savings and convenience.

This innovative textbook rental program will allow students to rent their textbooks for less than 50 percent of the cost of purchasing a new printed textbook. For convenience, students will be able to rent their books either in the store or from the store’s website.

“We anticipate that students will be very pleased to have this choice and that a great many will take advantage of the new program in the fall,” said Greg Graham, assistant vice president, Florida Tech Business and Retail Operations.

The decision to offer a textbook rental program was made jointly by the Florida Tech administration and Barnes & Noble College Booksellers.

“We are committed to providing students with the widest range of content options and price points available,” said Brian Stark, vice president, Barnes & Noble College Booksellers. “Whether students are interested in new books, used, digital, unbundled, or rentals, they know they can find what they want at the Florida Tech Barnes & Noble campus bookstore.”

Other program features include:

· Students can pay the rental fees using any form of tender currently accepted by the bookstore – including student financial aid and campus debit cards. · Students can highlight or mark the rented books just as they would if they purchased a book and planned to sell it back to the bookstore. · Students can convert their rental to a purchase during the first two weeks of class. · The rental period is for the duration of the semester. Books are due back at the bookstore no later than 10 days after the last day of finals. Students can return the books in person or mail them to the bookstore. · Courtesy e-mails will go out as the end of the semester approaches to remind students to return their books.

Barnes & Noble began piloting the rental program earlier this year at 25 campus bookstores across the country.

“Response from participating students was tremendous, said Stark. “In particular, students appreciate the option of getting their books immediately, rather than waiting for a shipment to arrive. They also appreciate knowing the books they’re renting are guaranteed to be the right books for the classes. More than 90 percent of the students surveyed said they would rent from their campus bookstore again.”

For more information about the Florida Tech Barnes & Noble campus bookstore, visit http://fit.bncollege.com.