Written by: Cliff Peale http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120518/NEWS/305180060/Barnes-Noble-operate-NKU-bookstore?odyssey=nav%7Chead

The college division of bookstore giant Barnes & Noble will take over operations at the Northern Kentucky University bookstore this summer.

NKU picked its bid over former vendor Follett Higher Education, which pays NKU a $300,000 guarantee and royalties generating between $25,000 to $75,000 a year.

"That's one of the divisions they're trying to grow," said Andy Meeks, director of business operations at NKU. "The bookstore will probably look different but we'll be running the same types of programs."�

Meeks would not detail the Barnes & Noble contract because it hasn't yet been signed, but said it was "a little better" than the Follett deal.

A forced evolution in college bookstores has taken hold during the last several years, with many offering rentals, electronic books and trade-in options to try to minimize prices that force most students to pay $1,000 a year or more.

But they remain highly profitable for universities.

At the University of Cincinnati, for example, Follett guarantees UC at least $1.6 million a year.

That contract runs until mid-2015, and requires UC to pay debt on the building, heating and cooling and other facilities costs.

Barnes and Noble has been growing the college division, with about 600 campus bookstores nationally.

In this area, those include Thomas More College and Gateway Community & Technical College. In Ohio, the company operates bookstores at Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University and the University of Toledo.

In a letter to NKU students in early May, Barnes & Noble officials said they would work on cost-saving options and book availability.

"Understanding that the rise in textbook costs can influence student success, we will work with each facutly member to ensure that we have the correct materials on the shelf at the lowest price possible," they said.

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