UConn’s campus bookstores at Storrs, the regional campuses, UConn Health, and UConn Law opened under the management of Barnes & Noble on June 9. Going forward, the stores will be collectively known as the UConn Bookstore.

“We look forward to excellent service, increased affordability of academic materials, and robust community engagement on the part of Barnes & Noble, which runs hundreds of campus bookstores across the nation,” said University President Susan Herbst in an email to the University community.

Herbst said under the new management, the UConn Bookstore will be well positioned to meet student concerns about the affordability of textbooks. Barnes & Noble has guaranteed that the store will match competitors’ prices.

The Bookstore will run a full-service website that will include all course materials requested by faculty and enable students to order and reserve textbooks online. It will also continue to offer textbook buy-back periods, sell and service computer hardware, sell licensed UConn apparel and general merchandise, and accept Husky Bucks.

Herbst noted that many of the same individuals who used to serve customers previously will continue to do so, thanks to a commitment from Barnes & Noble to hire employees of the bookstore’s previous operator at the same salary level. More than 100 community engagement events will be held throughout the year.

Plans for a new UConn Bookstore in downtown Hartford are under discussion.