Communication Cycle
Since 1909 The Campus Bookstore at Queen’s has been a student owned, not-for-profit
enterprise.
The Board of Directors come from our community and includes Students, Faculty, Senate
and Trustee representatives.
The Mission of the Bookstore is to provide required course materials at the lowest
prices possible. To that end we encourage Faculty to adopt their books as early
as possible, to readopt the same textbooks and to consider low cost or free online
alternatives.
Bookstore processes and communications are designed to ensure required materials
are available at the lowest cost possible the first day of each term.
Our communication Cycle:
1. Adoption Reminder Email
The reminder contains links for quick re-adoption of the materials used in the
previous course or term. The email contains links to online forms and resources
useful for new title adoption. Early adoptions of the same title allows the bookstore to
repurchase used books from students at higher prices. Early adoption of new titles
allows the bookstore to ensure course materials are in place for the beginning of
each term. Frequency of reminder: Each month until adoption is received.
2. Stock Alert
The email contains price details, competitive price details and current library
status. Regrettably, each year up to 20% of textbooks adoptions are received from
faculty after the start of classes. Domestic publisher lead times during peak periods
are as long as 3 weeks. The Bookstore processes all shipments in under 6 business
hours. Stock alerts for late adoptions are sent when books are placed on store shelves.
Frequency of reminder: 1 email per title per term.
3. Textbook List
The email contains links to alternative sources and information regarding the materials
which may include: on-line competitive prices and availability, library availability,
materials available in student classifieds, free digitized public domain versions
of materials and course websites. Faculty often forward this email to their class
list server. Frequency of reminder: one email per term per course/section.
4. Acquisition Alert
Sent to faculty when the sales of the required textbook for a class falls below
averages for the school. Historically, the bookstore sells about 67 percent of the
total class registration. Frequency of reminder: 1 email per title per term.
5. BuyBack Alert
Sent to faculty to encourage the re-adoption the same textbook for use in subsequent
courses. The bookstore repurchases current edition textbooks from students at the
end of each term. Students receive about 50% of the original price if the title
is readopted for a course at Queen's, about 30% if the book is readopted at a Canadian
school and about 15% if adopted by a US School. Early adoption of textbooks results
in lower costs of course materials for our students. Frequency of reminder: one email per term.
Questions
Ask the Textbooks Manager.