UW News

July 8, 2010

University Book Store branch opens in Odegaard Undergraduate Library

UW News

For years, the University Book Store maintained a presence in the HUB, filling the book, clerical, supply and other needs of students, faculty and staff. The HUB has now closed for its two-year remodeling project, but those needs remain.

Not to worry — the book store has opened a smaller shop on the first floor of the Odegaard Undergraduate Library, and it will stay open throughout the remodel. The store is on the right side of the center area as one enters from Red Square; it occupies the room that until a couple years back was used for printing and copying services.

“The students can get pretty much everything that we offer,” said Bryan Pearce, CEO of the store. He said daily deliveries are made from the main store, “so if it isn’t convenient to go to the store on the Ave., you can put in a request for really anything we sell.”

Pearce said the new location is about 1,000 square feet in all — about one-quarter the size of the now-closed HUB branch. Staff are still sorting out what items to offer in the new space. “One of the benefits of being organized the way we are is that we have five students on our board. We’re constantly in contact with students, so we’re mostly touching base with folks who frequent the library to ask them, What would you like to see there?”

Technology-related products are always needed, he said, and books such as the UW-created Common Book for 2010 will be in stock as well as various Husky-themed items that are always popular.

It’s been a time of expansion for the University Book Store, now in its 111th year of operation. In May the store opened a branch at 1319 Fourth Ave. in downtown Seattle.

“Like with any new store opening, similar to the one downtown … it takes us a few months to get the merchandise situated relative to the demands and needs of customers,” Pearce said.

He said the Odegaard book store branch is seeing mostly students as its clientele so far, while the HUB branch tended to see faculty, staff and students more equally. “So we have to treat it like any new store and tailor to the needs of that customer group.”

Pearce said the service window in the space will be retained and used for the buyback of textbooks. “The students can queue up outside the store — it adds a bit more room.”

And speaking of room, when the UW Book Store returns to the remodeled HUB, it will be located on the Food Court level and will be about one-quarter larger than the previous HUB branch.

The Odegaard Undergraduate Library branch of the University Book store is open this summer from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

For information about all UW Book Store locations, operating hours and more, visit online here.