With the 2009-2010 school year’s record enrollment, the workload at the Amarillo College Bookstore has doubled as the number of books required by faculty members grows.
Also on the rise are student complaints about price and availability. “The books are overpriced,” said general studies major Kerstin Adams. But campus officials maintain that the prices are offset by overall tuition costs. “Any margin goes back to the AC business office to keep tuition low and assist in maintaining the budget of college programs for students,” said bookstore manager Dennis Leslie. According to Leslie, the college aims to keep book prices fair by often directly contacting the publisher to minimize costs by requesting paperback as well as black-and-white editions. Aside from pricing, students usually report good interaction with the bookstore and its staff. “The AC Bookstore does a really good job,” said nursing major Bill Bryan. “They are really helpful and task-oriented.” Another issue that comes with increased enrollment is a supply of textbooks that dwindles quickly. But in recent years, the bookstore and instructors have strengthened communication to prevent that problem. Julia Nesbitt, who is responsible for ordering textbooks, said she gets enrollment and registration information from instructors so she can “check those numbers against what the bookstore has in stock as well as checking to see what textbooks will be used the following semester.” So far this year, only six classes have had to order more textbooks, she said.
AC has bookstore branches on the Washington Street and West campuses.
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