The Bakersfield College bookstore may soon be under new management, according to sources. The Kern Community College District has sent out requests for proposals to companies interested in running the bookstore.
Amber Chiang, director of marketing and public relations, confirmed that two bids have been received. However, she is not aware of who the organizations are that submitted them and said that the process involved with reviewing and selecting candidates by the board of trustees is “extremely formalized,” and the identities of the companies submitting bids will not be known until they are formally reviewed.
“Who the companies might be is hard to say. There’s probably large bookstore chains but then there’s probably operators of college bookstores that are independent – it’s hard to tell and would be all speculation at this point,” Chiang said.
One advantage the change will have for BC staff and students is that the bookstore will be more competitive in book pricing, according to Laura Lorigo, auxiliary manager for BC. Lorigo is optimistic that a new management company will be able to update the bookstore to an electronic system, making the ordering and purchasing processes more efficient.
Because bids have not been reviewed yet, it is still possible that more applicants may submit bids for consideration by the board of trustees.