Follett announces new textbook rental to come this Fall

On April 15 South Campus' Student Government Association hosted a forum for students to discuss textbook issues with representatives from Follett, the school's bookstore. 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.

Ivar Isacsson, who has come to FSCJ after obtaining a bachelor's degree in sports management, purchased a used physics textbook from Follett in spring semester. Isacsson said his fellow classmate purchased the same edition of the textbook in comparable, used condition for a significant fraction of the price from an online vendor.

After paying at least $150 for a used textbook at Follett's store and finding his classmate paid less than $50, Isacsson said, "It doesn't make sense that one company can get away selling a textbook for that price."

Distaola said that fewer students are coming with their classroom materials. Students can also be frustrated by high-priced textbooks. The goal of Follett's new book rental program is to offer a solution to that problem.

With the Rent-A-Text program, Distaola said students will be able to get 50 percent off, or more, from the new textbook price. Not only that, Follett will be assuming all the risks.

Distaola is confident Follett's new program will make a lot of students happy. "Rent-A-Text is all about students and it's about making texts more affordable."

When told about Follett's textbook rental program, Isacsson said, "I think that's a tremendous idea."

Isacsson also said that with Follett's new textbook rental program, the bookstore will be more competitive and obtain patrons. Not only that, he said Follett will generate more revenue by cutting orders from the publishers to put on their shelves.