They Serve Their Universities in Various Ways : Books Don’t Tell Bookstore Story

University bookstores have a deceiving name. No longer do they offer just books; in fact, they appear to be more like convenience stores, selling everything from jewelry and cameras to clothing and food.

They are also sources of large amounts of capital for the universities they serve. During the 1984-85 school year, for example, the combined total revenue of bookstores at San Diego State University, the University of California, San Diego, and the University of San Diego was approximately $20.6 million.

Not surprisingly, SDSU’s bookstore makes the most money of the three major universities. Last fiscal year, the nonprofit bookstore reported more than $300,000 in profit from more than $11.7 million in total revenue.

Profits Finance Activities

All profits made by the bookstore help finance various activities and organizations, including the bookstore itself.

The bookstore serves as a place of student employment as well. On average, 120 people, most of them students, work there, and that number increases to 300 people during the rush period of the first few weeks of each school year.

Besides text and trade books, SDSU’s bookstore also offers art and school supplies, electronic equipment, jewelry, clothing, and a section of food and sundries.

In addition, the bookstore offers a rental service that includes typewriters and other equipment. Inside, it resembles a 7-Eleven store more than the stereotypical college bookstore.

Although SDSU’s bookstore is the largest, it is not dissimilar to those of other universities in San Diego.

The UCSD bookstore last year reported approximately $150,000 in profit and about $7.4 million in revenue, according to store manager Paul Mares. The store offers many of the same items as SDSU’s, although it lacks a food and sundries section.

Humble Beginnings

The bookstore at the University of San Diego has food and sundries, but is only about one-eighth the size of SDSU’s.

The SDSU bookstore’s beginnings were humble--it first opened in the early 1930s and, through most of the 1950s, resided in a Quonset hut.

But in 1958, the the bookstore was moved to its present location, a large two-story building in the center of campus. Also that year, the store added merchandise other than books and materials needed for classes, including popular-title books, which now number more than 20,000.

Clothing, mostly T-shirts and sweat shirts emblazoned with the school name, was added in 1962. And four years ago, the entire building was remodeled, gaining in the process a food and sundries section as well as merchandise counters. The top floor is now reserved for books.

“The demand has certainly grown over the years.” said Phil Robbins, the store’s manager. “When I first came to San Diego State in 1961 there were only about 10,000 students.” Today, there are nearly 35,000 students enrolled, the largest student population in the 19-member state university system.

Major Remodeling

USD’s bookstore underwent a major remodeling during the past summer and the project is still not completed, according to assistant manager Marsha Butler.

However, because it will not be included in the newly planned student center, the USD bookstore will be facing some problems.

“We’re stuck behind a building and (partly) hidden.” said Butler. “So it’s a question of how (to) motivate people and get them to come here. We can’t survive on text book sales alone. That’s why college bookstores carry all of these other things.”

The UCSD bookstore will be making the biggest change.

“We’ll be moving into a new complex that’s just in the planning stages now.” said general manager Paul Mares. Scheduled for completion in July, 1988, the new student center will about double the size of the bookstore, Mares said.

University bookstores may play a more important role than just providing convenience and revenues. “Bookstores . . . are very important.” said SDSU’s Robbins. “We’re a key ingredient in the mission of the university. We’re the ones given the job to supply the materials to the students for their education.”