skip navigation

This page is designed for modern browsers. You will have a better experience with a better browser.

Brown Home Brown Home Brown University Brown University Brown University Brown University Bookstore Committee Home

TO
Brown Community

FROM
Beppie Huidekoper
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration
Bookstore Review Committee Chair

DATE:
May 2, 2006

RE:
Bookstore Review Committee Report

Over the past several weeks the Bookstore Review Committee has been conducting meetings with various groups on campus to discuss the findings and recommendations of its March 2006 report, and to get feedback and questions.  We have met with the Faculty Executive Committee, the full faculty, Medical Student Senate, Undergraduate Council of Students, Graduate Student Council, Staff Advisory Council, Brown University Community Council, Medical Faculty Executive Committee, and Brown Bookstore Staff.  We have encouraged campus community members to provide us with feedback via email, and many have done so. The process has been extremely helpful, and we have learned a good deal more about the advantages and disadvantages of managing the Bookstore under the two operating models under consideration. 

What is clear from our efforts is that members of the Brown community, including Bookstore staff, recognize the need for material improvements within the Bookstore in a variety of ways, such as the store’s appearance, operations, service and retail offerings.  Further, we have learned that there is strong campus community support for maintaining the independence of the Brown Bookstore as we implement these improvements rather than contracting with a vendor. While the committee feels both models are viable, the committee also believes Brown’s values, culture and customers can be best represented and successfully served at this time in a self operated store.

Accordingly, the Administration has decided that the Bookstore will continue to operate as an independent store, and that we will move forward in the months ahead to upgrade the Brown Bookstore under an improved self-operation model.

The committee will be conducting two open meetings next week to gather suggestions from the community on ways to improve the store – Tuesday, May 9th from 5:00-6:30 PM at Solomon 001, and Wednesday, May 10th  from 12-1:30 PM at MacMillan 115. Please feel free to attend these meetings or forward your suggestions to [email protected].

I would like to thank members of the community for their input, and to extend a special thank you to the staff of the Bookstore for their patience and professionalism throughout this review process.  We look forward to working together on the exciting challenges and opportunities ahead! 

Findings and Reports

Open Forums to discuss improving the bookstore

  • May 9th 5-6 p.m. Solomon 101
  • May 10th 12-1 p.m. MacMillan 115