Barnes & Noble College is proud to announce it has partnered with Delta State University to manage and operate its campus bookstore. The five-year contract will transfer the management of the Jimmy R. Williams Bookstore on March 1, 2012.

“Barnes & Noble College is truly excited to partner with Delta State University,” said Max J. Roberts president of Barnes & Noble College. “We look forward to serving the students and faculty of this great southern university, whose deep commitment to education stretches back to its beginnings as a teacher’s college. Working closely with Delta State’s administration, faculty and students, we promise to make the bookstore an even more valuable resource for its campus.”

Located in Cleveland, Mississippi, Delta State University is a public institution providing a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum to over 4,000 students from 34 states and 20 countries. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and offers 12 baccalaureate degrees in 38 majors and seeks to meet the need for advanced training by providing programs of study for nine master’s degrees, the Educational Specialist degree and the Doctor of Education degree.

“I am pleased to announce that Delta State University has entered into an agreement with Barnes & Noble College Booksellers to be the operator of our campus bookstore,” said Delta State University President Dr. John Hilpert in a press release. “Barnes & Noble brings brand excellence, a history of technology innovation, and a commitment to customer service to Delta State.

With its beginnings as a teacher’s college, the University sustains excellence in teacher education while continuing to expand offerings in traditional as well as unique programs of study.

“It is my hope that the selection of Barnes & Noble College will be beneficial for the students of Delta State University,” said Dr. Vickie Webster, assistant professor of computer information systems. “The company has a proven brand and has been successful at operating college and university bookstores throughout the country.”

New Cost-Saving Offerings

The bookstore will continue to sell clothing, supplies, gifts and sundries. In addition, a number of new and innovative services focused on delivering cost savings and convenience will be introduced to students. Under the terms of the contract, Delta State students will now have access to:

• In-store and online textbook rentals – For the first time, students will have the option of renting textbooks either online or in the bookstore. Students opting for textbook rentals will save more than 50 percent over the cost of a new printed book and can pay for rental fees by using cash, check, credit, or student financial aid.
• Rapidly expanding selection of eTextbooks – In addition to offering savings of up to 60 percent over new printed books, Barnes & Noble’s revolutionary and free NOOK Study™ application serves up eTextbooks in an engaging format that enhances the overall learning experience.
• Generous cash-for-books program – Students with books that faculty plan to reuse next semester will be eligible for a 50 percent cash payout, up to needed inventories.
• Registration Integration – A user-friendly Registration Integration system allows students to reserve and order textbooks immediately after they register for courses online, automatically populating carts with the right books for the right class and making the purchasing process more convenient than ever.

Barnes & Noble College has also taken a leadership position in the use of social media to connect with students. The Delta State University bookstore will have its own locally managed Facebook page, Foursquare promotions, and an innovative word-of-mouth marketing program to help keep students connected to bookstore products, services, and special events.

Barnes & Noble is proud to partner with Delta State University. We operate more than 630 campus bookstores across the United States for such prestigious institutions as Harvard, Mississippi State University, and Tidewater Community College, including 8 in the state of Mississippi.

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