January 26, 1995: Vol26n14: >Bookstore survey shows users satisfied with services, PSS task force

By CHRISTINE VIDAL
Reporter Editor
The university community in general is satisfied with the services
being provided by Follett's University Bookstore, according to a
member of the University Bookstore Task Force who spoke before the
Professional Staff Senate last week.
	Phyllis Parisi, who represented the PSS on the task force,
discussed the group's findings at the Jan. 19 PSS meeting held in
Pistachio's.
	A user perception survey sent out to the university community
found that 80 percent of respondents found the services of the
bookstore satisfactory or excellent, she said. A major area of
dissatisfaction among those completing the survey, however, was
pricing.
	Parisi noted that bookstore prices are set according to an
agreement that Follett's negotiated with the university in 1982, which
gives the corporation "the sole and exclusive right to sell new and
used textbooks" at UB. The agreement, which also allows Follett's to
mark up books to 20 percent over retail price and to set prices on
used textbooks, extends over 20 years, she said.
	Although the agreement between Follett's and UB encouraged the
formation of a student/faculty committee, none had been appointed
until the university was forced to shut down a student-run bookstore
in the spring of 1994, because of the exclusivity agreement.
	Among the recommendations made by the University Bookstore
Task Force:
		Shut down the Ellicott Bookstore, which no longer
carried textbooks, but had turned into a convenience-type store that
carried chips and soft drinks.
	 	Expand services and square footage of the University
Bookstore, which the task force found was smaller that those at
comparable universities and offered fewer services.
		Move the Main Street Bookstore back onto that campus
and have it carry books required for Millard Fillmore College courses.
		Create a standing committee to address ongoing
bookstore problems.
	The Professional Staff Senate also heard a report by Daniel
Massing on PSS's mentoring program, which is "designed to raise the
quality of working relationships at UB," he said. Upcoming brown bag
lunch programs, through which proteges are solicited, are scheduled
for noon on Feb. 2 in 125 CFS Addition on the South Campus, and noon
on Feb. 7 in 414 Bonner Hall on the North Campus.
	In other business, Michael Gendrue presented a tentative PSS
election timetable and officers were called on to give a brief
description of their jobs in the organization. PSS Chair Rosalyn
Wilkinson announced that an Ad Hoc Committee on the Effects of
Decentralized Classification had been formed, and is chaired by Stacey
Johnson.
	Faculty Senate Chair Peter Nickerson announced that SUNY
Chancellor Thomas Bartlett will address the winter meeting of the
SUNYwide Faculty Senate and the address will be shown live at 1:30
p.m. Friday, Jan. 27 in 120 Clemens Hall on UB's North Campus and in
the first floor Emeritus Center lounge in Goodyear Hall on the South
Campus. "This is an important opportunity to see what type of
leadership we have," Nickerson said. He added that videotapes of the
teleconference will be available to those interested in obtaining a
copy.