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MUSC's on-campus bookstore opens Aug. 26  by Cindy Abole  Public Relations  Although the fall semester signals a fresh start for new and returning MUSC students, a new campus convenience will help students stay prepared with textbooks and related materials  throughout the year. It is the opening of Matthews MUSC Bookstore.    John Runyon, left, and Robert Bloom inspect textbooks for MUSC's fall semester. On Monday, Aug. 26, students won’t need to go any farther than their computer’s keyboard or Harper Student Center to order, reserve and purchase textbooks and materials in preparation for their classes.    Coordination of this on-campus bookstore has been the result of more than a year’s effort involving cooperative planning, interaction and coordination among faculty, staff and students. It was the focus of business services director John Runyon, who approached the issue with a keen business eye and appraisal of the changing textbook market.      “This certainly is a happy moment,” Runyon said. “Our students and faculty have shown great support and appreciation in these efforts. We look forward to the success of this wonderful partnership.”    Since formally accepting the bid last month to operate and manage MUSC’s bookstore, Matthews Medical Books staff have scrambled to coordinate a Web page link to the university’s Web site indicating their new affiliation, while managing faculty and student orders. In the meantime, Runyon with the full support of Gil Bradham, M.D., former dean of student life, acquired an on-campus location within the Harper Student Center, the same location of an on-campus bookstore more than 20 years ago.    Matthew’s partnership provides MUSC access into the company’s huge database of textbooks and materials. Their inventory control system allows anyone to conduct automated online purchase, special orders or reserve books for pick-up or mail order delivery.    “Our immediate focus is to supply books,” said Robert Bloom, bookstore manager. Bloom has spent the last week unpacking, organizing textbooks and study materials from faculty textbook orders in time for next week’s opening.    By year’s end, Bloom estimates the bookstore to stock a number of  texts and reference titles along with medical diagnostic equipment, study aids, apparel and other general merchandise.    Since spring 2001, the fate of a bookstore serving MUSC’s community wavered with the closing of Jordan Medical Supply and a temporary partnership with the College of Charleston Bookstore. Though the College of Charleston bookstore served MUSC well, students and faculty firmly indicated that an on-campus bookstore dedicated to the specific needs of MUSC was the best option for the university.   Runyon responded by exploring other bookstore options. He conferred with a campus bookstore advisory committee, which was composed of faculty from each of the five colleges and student representatives to discuss ideas. Last May, the state approved a document allowing the university to create a professional vendor/contractor contract to manage an on-campus bookstore. The arrangements allowed the winning vendor to generate business and manage transactions, while sharing profits with the university.    A month later, a bookstore contract evaluation panel reviewed offers from three professional businesses. Missouri-based medical bookstore specialist Matthews Medical Books won the three-year contract. Matthews runs similar bookstore arrangements at professional institutions including Johns Hopkins University, Eastern Virginia Medical College, the University of New York Stoneybrook and the Pennsylvania College of Optometry Philadelphia.   “We’re excited to be here to provide a service to MUSC’s community,” Bloom said. “We want to provide the best service available.”   The Matthews MUSC Bookstore is located in room 108 in the Harper Student Center. Hours are: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday,  and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.   For more information, visit their Web site at http://www.cbmatthews.com/musc or call 792-1900.   Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.