Campus bookstore set to move to Founders

September 24, 2008
By Gary Smothers
Staff Writer

The UIS Bookstore, Currently cramped and oddly located in the campus dining hall, is on the move.

According to Brenda Butler, the bookstore's manager for the past eitght years, the relocation to Founders Hall will take place between September 26 and 28, with the re-opening planned for September 29. Steve Chrans, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and interim Assistant Chancellor of Student Affaires, says that an "in the works" grand opening celebration is tentatively planned for October 22.

The new store will feature more clothing styles and books, with the possibility of new food items as well. However, the store will definitely feature more space in which to move. Chrans elaborates on the spatial aspects of the move, "As the school enrollment continues to grow we simply require more space."

At over 4,000 square feet, the new store will be nearly double the size when compared to the cramped 2,200 square feet of the current store. The move was facilitated by Chrans to create more shopping space and, in turn, solve the growing problem of an ever-packed dining room which only promises to grow worse with the spike in enrollment. He approximates the seating of an additional 84 to 94 students in the spot vacated by the current store.

Butler describes the new UIS bookstore as a "green store" with eco-friendly shelving units and carpet. Chrans states that the shelves will consist of wood struck fiber board which will not use any formaldehyde in the adhesion process. This lack of formaldehyde will cut store emissions to 97 percent. The carpeting will consist of 35 percent post-consumer recycled content. EFollet, the company which supp0lies the store with building materials and textbooks, states that they are committed to "doing the little things which lead to bigger things in the future." Another little thing they will be providing for the store will be T5 fluorescent lighting, which uses smaller, yet bright, lights that require less glass and mercury material. EFollet is also making a commitment to pursue a more aggressive buyback program. Books that will not be used again are to be recycled by being shred for packing material or sent overseas to Asia program.

A planned revamping of the web site, in accompaniment with the new bookstore, is also in the works and should be available soon.