WKU will recommend to the Board of Regents that operation of the campus bookstore transfer over to Barnes and Noble College. The move would end an era of WKU owning and operating its own bookstore, which began in 1923.

The deal comes after a five month request for proposals process for the bookstore. Susan Howarth, executive vice president of Strategy, Operations and Finance issued a statement on the matter.

“This month, the RFP committee made its recommendation to transition the WKU Store to Barnes and Noble College,” Howarth said in the statement. “During the next several weeks, we will engage with our campus community through our shared governance groups.”

Howarth said the financial benefits to the University will include a renovation of the store, a one-time gift of $350,000, an annual textbook scholarship of $15,000 and a guaranteed $1 million in revenue during the first year.   

Currently, there are eight full-time employees at the bookstore, with additional student and part-time employees.

“Barnes and Noble is interested in hiring experienced staff from the WKU Store,” Howarth said in the email. “However, the number of positions to fill and all hiring decisions to fill those positions will be made by Barnes and Noble.”

Howarth said the decision to privatize the store will help increase its viability as a business, since more students are getting their textbooks from online stores. 

“To remain viable, the store must be able to successfully compete in the open marketplace, requiring the resources of large competitors,” Howarth said.

Last year, the store reported a net income of $478,253, up over $240,000 from 2018.

News reporter Jack Dobbs can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @jackrdobbs.