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C of C Bookstore new source for textbooks by Cindy Abole Public Relations Picture the thick congestion of traffic around campus on weekday mornings, the sight of students busily tapping at computer workstations in the fourth floor Library and Learning Resource Center or the vision of students sprawled over benches and lobby sofas or lounge chairs during mid-day. These are active signs of student life as they begin to converge on MUSC’s campus to begin another academic year.   New to this cyclical process is a different resource for textbooks and class materials, now handled by the College of Charleston Bookstore.    MUSC PA students Nancy Brooks, right, Tara Johnson, and C of C Bookstore Manager Emily Gray, center, are surrounded by MUSC text and materials. The C of C Bookstore is a new resource for purchasing books. The change came as a result of the closing of Jordan Medical Company, a long-time supplier of textbooks and other equipment for MUSC students. Its closing this past spring prompted the immediate response of MUSC faculty and staff as they began to explore other alternatives for students and faculty.   Today, students can physically purchase books at the college's Calhoun Street location or order them on-line through its virtual bookstore.   In spring, MUSC Business Services Director John Runyon headed a bookstore task force consisting of a dozen college representatives, faculty and staff to determine a short-term solution for purchasing books for the summer classes and the fall 2001 semester. College of Charleston Bookstore Manager Emily Gray spoke to the group about the possibilities for partnership.   “We were glad to be able to work with the bookstore task force in accommodating their immediate needs,” said Gray. “This fall, we’ve managed to set aside an area to accommodate MUSC texts and other items. Right now, we’re housing inventory for both schools and it’s pretty jammed.”   Perhaps the most obvious drawback is its proximity between both campuses. MUSC students must physically travel about 7 to 8 blocks further into town for the chance to scan and purchase texts versus ordering them online.   “It's common for students to want to look at and review textbooks before purchasing them,” said Tom Dozier, a medical student who also serves as Student Government Association president. “A lot of people agree that it's certainly worth the extra 5-10 minutes of their time.”   Just recently, students began receiving e-mail and written reminders regarding the new partnership with the College of Charleston Bookstore. At the same time, faculty received similar notice of the changes and was urged to submit their fall semester book adoption paperwork, if they hadn’t already.    “We're eager to serve the students through special orders, some medical supplies and other reference materials,” Gray said. “We're also open to any comments, questions or requests by our students and customers and would welcome any suggestions to do it better.”   Faculty and course material coordinators can still place their book adoption information for fall 2001 and spring 2002 semesters at the College of Charleston Bookstore. To place textbook adoptions, faculty must establish a shopping account on the bookstore Web site.    They must also complete and submit a book adoption form online or by fax to the College of Charleston Bookstore at 953-5602 (fax).    “The bookstore has really gone the extra mile to accommodate our students,” Runyon said. “They have been outstanding in providing for our individual needs.”   Gray has also received favorable responses from students and faculty about their amount of stocked merchandise and most importantly, prices.    “They're pleasantly surprised to learn that our prices are just as competitive and sometimes even lower compared to other web-based resources,” Gray said.