This one has all the makings of a David and Goliath biblio thriller. Corporate giant infiltrates university campus.
Book spies, stolen textbook lists, divided communities and tons of money at stake.
In one corner is North Light Books & Cafe and Coppefield’s, two independent bookstores, in the other the Barnes & Noble run Sonoma State University Bookstore.
When the University was looking for new manager for the bookstore they sent out an RFP (request for proposal) directly to three national bookstore chains. There was no public announcement. The RFP also stated that the bookstore was “seeking to establish a business partnership with a nationally recognized bookstore company” effectively excluding any hope of a local or regional bookshop to submit a proposal.
Why the bookstore rejected the idea of simply hiring a new manager remains unclear.
In May of 2006 the Sonoma State Academic Senate passed a resolution strongly urging the university to delay the signing of the contract with Barnes & Noble. The “Outsourcing Bookstore Resolution” includes a letter from a lawyer representing the 2 independent booksellers. The letter contends that the agreement was not in” compliance with the publication requirements of state law”
In protest of this shady agreement some University professors gave their course textbook orders to North Light and not the University book store. Over 50% more profs gave their book orders to North Light then the year before ordering some 575 titles. North Light had to expand to meet the need.
asap the Associated Press website for the wired generation has a lead article on the story including video and a podcast.
Bookselling This Week story from early November