For those who have desired to own a complete anthology of Shakespeare?s works, study “Gray?s Anatomy” in private or bone up on Algebra 101, help is as close as a visit to the nearest college bookstore.
And for bibliophiles, the students of life, these bookstores represent the promised land.
“Parking can be a problem when class is in session,” said Wayne Sharrer, director of Towson University?s bookstore.
“But [non-students] do come, looking mostly for nursing reference books and special ed books.”
At the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, the pickings are good, even if the parking can be a bit dicey.
Patience, however, is rewarded with payoff.
“We have tens of thousands of books here at the store,” said Bob Somers, the university bookstore?s director.
“We have a huge reference collection, with reference books on anything you could possibly want.”
Textbooks can be ordered online and shipped, but Somers said UMBC is setting up a Web site for trade book orders.
Best-sellers, he said, are discounted 30 percent.
“I tell my textbook manager that after the onslaught, we become trade book sellers,” Somers said.
“We?re like any other retail, people go right to the sales.”
Loyola College in Baltimore is one of seven institutions in Maryland that uses eFollett.com, a network of bookstores serving campuses across the United States and Canada.
The Web site offers textbooks, general books, medical books and e-books. The consumer can search by title, author, ISBN, keywords and even categories.
For example, under the general book section, there are 65 categories from which to choose, including every topic from antiques and collectibles to true crime.
When the total experience of a college bookstore is needed, the new book smell and the neat stacks on the floor organized by discipline, Loyola College boasts three store locations, an undergraduate store at the Evergreencampus and two graduate centers, one in Columbia and the other in Timonium.
Finding your way
For details, hours and on-site campus directions:
» University of Maryland, Baltimore County: 410-455- 2665, bookstore.umbc.edu
» Towson University, University Store: 410-526-3527, store.towson.edu
» Loyola College Bookstore: 410-617-5723, loyola.edu, efollett.com
