While packed aisles at the University Bookstore are still a common beginning-of-the-term experience
for most University students,
some professors now send their students book-hunting at other
local businesses.
English Professor David Vazquez ordered textbooks for his two literature classes at Mother Kali’s Bookstore.
“I wanted to support the local bookstores,” Vazquez said. “So far it’s been pretty good. It seems like they have enough books and everything’s going smoothly.”
The relationship between the University Bookstore and other bookstores professors use is cordial.
“I don’t think it has much impact on us,” said Chris Standish, book division manager of the University Bookstore. “It’s good to have other local stores, because if we run out of something, it gives students another place to shop locally.”
However, Standish added that the University Bookstore is better equipped to handle students receiving certain types of financial aid, such as vocational rehabilitation
and athletic scholarships, because it has a special account system for such students.
Some students say the inconvenience of having to travel a few blocks off campus for books is minor.
The trip off campus didn’t bother freshman Spanish major Jennifer Yabu.
“It doesn’t really bother me,” Yabu said as she bought a Spanish course packet at The Copy Shop.
“I just wish they would let you know in advance, especially
students who have to budget for their textbooks.”
Some off-campus coursebook retailers, like Mother Kali’s Books and The Copy Shop, have had coursebook arrangements with many University classes for years. Others, such as Tsunami Books, sell coursebooks on a smaller scale.

Mother Kali’s Books sells textbooks for various departments including women’s and gender studies, literature and political science.
“The only thing we really don’t
do is the hard sciences,” said Karen Luna, manager of Mother Kali’s Books.
The Copy Shop produces packets for approximately 40 classes in numerous departments, most notably in romance languages such as Spanish and French.
“Typically the instructors that come here are concerned about the cost of textbooks,” said Steve Jarvis, manager of The Copy Shop. “Our printing cost is about half (that) of the bookstore.”
Jarvis explained that while the bookstore and The Copy Shop must pay the same copyright fees to
produce course packets, the business is able to save money on printing and binding. He also said The Copy Shop can produce packets more quickly, which is useful for professors who need to have packets printed in the middle of the term or after the bookstore’s deadline.
An integral role
Mother Kali’s Books began in the 1970s as a women’s cooperative feminist bookstore, meaning that they originally sold only books by women on subjects relating to women’s lives. It was founded at the same time the University started the Women’s and Gender Studies Program. Izzie Harbaugh, an early manager of the store, took advantage of the opportunity and began making coursebook arrangements with the department.
“She literally rolled a cart of books into the classroom,” Luna said.
Coursebooks are still an integral part of business at Mother Kali’s Books, especially in the wake
of competition from online bookstores in recent years.
“Internet buying in general,
Borders, Barnes & Noble, have put lots of independent bookstores out of business, and this store had to stop and think about how it was going to adjust with the time,” Luna said. “The textbooks are what kept this afloat during the crisis. Professors rallied, incredibly, to support us.”
“It’s a good idea that they do that,” Standish said regarding professors’ support of Mother Kali’s Books. “I don’t want to see that store go out of business either.”
Tsunami Books sells some coursebooks, for subjects including creative writing, and also serves students in search of fiction and
poetry books. Co-owner David Rhodes said that the students’ business “adds to the diversity of who we get to see. Students bring a good energy, a fresh, young energy.”

Eva Sylwester is a freelance reporter for the Daily Emerald