The University Store is undergoing major changes, both in product and layout, to bring back books to the bookstore. With a new section focusing on student and faculty authors, popular novels, reading-related gifts, and even blind book kits – the University Store is embracing its roots as a bookstore.
“Penned By The Pack” is the new cleverly named section in which multiple professors and students have their published works for sale. The new section comes a year after the first Opened Mic Night at the University Store, in which students and faculty alike come together to read original works out loud to an audience. Commonwealth University Marketing and Customer Service Faculty Member Sandy Freeman recalled how the shift in attendance at these semi-regularly held Open Mic Nights grew from a mere 8 attendees to the most recent event, which held over 30 people. According to Freeman, these Open Mic Nights have been a large success for the bookstore and have even led to the publishing of student works.
Bookstore Manager, and the mind behind the recent changes, Laura Heger said, “Having the open mic nights here is a way for us to give students a platform in which to share their work and just kind of get that out there.”
In addition to Penned By The Pack, the store has embraced an atmosphere that Heger refers to as BookTok, a popular internet hashtag among the online reading community.
“I became familiar with BookTok,” Heger said, “And it just kind of made me realize I did a little bit more research and looking into it that there is sort of a resurgence of people who like to read actual physical print novels.”
The bookstore’s BookTok section features a large shelf of popular novels, as well as a fishbowl and a pack of sticky notes for students and faculty alike to jot down suggestions and their favorite novels to improve the Book Store.
Aside from the already implemented changes, Heger has thoughts about the future look and layout of the store.
“ that entire area back there is gonna have like a really cool bookstore. Feel to it” Heger Said, “when I say bookstore I mean, like your traditional bookstore and coffee shop”
Heger expressed that they want to see couches and tables in the future to help freshen up the bookstore’s look and promote reading among the campus’s many students and staff.
