Bookstore Transition 2024

As of Tuesday, October 15, 2024, faculty may submit their Winter Quarter textbook and course material adoptions to Akademos through the Verba Collect app.

Attention, faculty: please note, If you will be using a course packet, OER resources, or you will not be using any materials, please still submit that information to the adoption portal.     

To get started, follow these steps:

1. Go online to Seattle Colleges District – Akademos Verba Collect | Login.
2. Use the single sign-on option to enter the portal (enter your Seattle Colleges login credentials or click the “Continue with your Seattle Colleges login” button.
3. Use this step-by-step guide to help you add your textbooks and course materials.  

Assistance from Akademos

Need assistance making adoptions? Email help@vitalsource.com. 

They can help with: 

• Adoption inquiries  
• Adoption you are inputting is not populating
• Coursepack questions
• Format availability questions  
• Ebook/courseware/physical
• Problem book questions - Wanting to use an out of print/ reprinted /new edition item
• General questions relating to making adoptions in Collect

These emails will go directly to their dedicated Adoptions Team, who will respond to faculty and guide them on how to solve the issue they are facing. 

At times, Akademos may not have a specific item set up in their catalog, and that can cause confusion for faculty when adopting. Akademos most likely can source the item, but their Adoptions Team will need to work with their Publisher Enablement Team to get the item set up and added to their catalog.

There is also a "Contact Us" button in Collect that will allow faculty to reach out to the Akademos team for assistance without leaving the Collect site. 

Faculty should contact their dean or the vice president for instruction at their college with other questions.

We recognize this transition has been more challenging than anticipated. We ask everyone for their grace as we work together to support our new and returning students. 

Follett, the company that has served as our bookstore vendor for the past two years, has chosen not to renew its contract. On April 18, 2024, Follett informed Seattle Colleges that it would exercise its right to decline renewing its service to Seattle Colleges with a 120-day notice, as permitted in the contract.

Since receiving notice from Follett, the Finance Office has revisited vendors who previously submitted proposals in our solicitation for bookstore management vendors to minimize the time needed to research vendors who can provide this service. This review has identified Akademos by VitalSource as an acceptable vendor for our upcoming academic year.

The transition to Akademos by VitalSource is an emergency response to the short notice of termination provided by Follett. It allows Seattle Colleges to minimize the interruption of course material access for our students and faculty across our colleges. We understand that this is not an ideal scenario—and it will not solve all issues involved in this process—but we will proceed to provide access to course materials via a reliable vendor.

Akademos by VitalSource works with more than 170 colleges and universities around the country and has provided students with many low-cost textbook options and significant savings. Benefits include:

• Textbook variety – Select from new, used, ebook, and rental textbooks.
• Branded gear – The bookstore will also eventually sell branded apparel and gifts like clothing, hats, mugs, and more (coming Winter Quarter).
• Affordable prices – The bookstore has a marketplace where you can save an average of 60% off the list price of textbooks that are sold by students and vendors around the country.
• Optimization – It takes only minutes to review and order textbooks. The website is also mobile-optimized so you can order from any of your digital devices.
• Savings on new books – Price match guarantee on new books.
• Help when you need it – Year-round student support with 24/7 availability during the back-to-school season.
• Free shipping – Save shipping costs on retail orders over $79 (exclusions may apply).
• Sell your used textbooks – Post and sell textbooks on the Valore Marketplace and get an instant quote.

Follett’s final termination and vacate date was August 6, 2024. Please note, the former on-campus bookstores at North, Central, and South are closed. Our new bookstore provider (Akademos by VitalSource) will operate an interim online bookstore this Fall.  

Please note, the former on-campus bookstores at North, Central, and South are closed until further notice. Our new bookstore provider (Akademos by VitalSource) will operate an interim online bookstore this Fall.  

No. There will be one centralized, districtwide bookstore website for all Seattle Colleges campuses. 

Akademos by Vitalsource will operate an single interim online bookstore for Fall Quarter.

For the Phase 2 fully integrated bookstore website (launching in December 2024 for Winter Quarter 2025), students will be able to filter by college to see what course materials are required for their classes if they access the site from a browser.

Akademos will be integrating their systems with our Seattle Colleges systems. Students will be able to access a personalized version of the  Akademos site based on the courses they are enrolled in. This view will show materials faculty have submitted for students for their registered courses.

This new bookstore website will require much of the summer to implement. A tentative target launch date has been identified as Wednesday, September 4, for faculty and administrative users (give or take a week should technical issues arise).

Phase 1: The interim online bookstore opened on Thursday, September 19, 2024. This interim bookstore will only offer digital materials. Students will be notified by email when they may access this bookstore and purchase digital materials. 

Phase 2: The fully integrated bookstore website that compiles a personalized list of books and materials for each student to purchase in various digital AND print options will be available sometime in December 2024 for Winter Quarter 2025.

Updated 09/20/2024

Students will be notified via email once the new online bookstore website is ready for ordering for Fall Quarter. (Email sent Thursday, 09/19/2024)

Follow the links to the new bookstore from your college's bookstore landing page (see Step 1 below), which has college-specific information about in-person help and pick-up locations.

Follow These Steps to purchase and access your required digital etextbooks and digital courseware.

Important Note: Students in the following programs should contact program staff at their college BEFORE purchasing course materials: BFET (Basic Food Employment & Training), Book Scholarships, Emergency Aid, Employer Vouchers, Opportunity Grant, Running Start, Veteran’s Affairs, WorkFirst, WorkForce Education, Worker Retraining. These programs may pay for textbooks and course materials directly.

Step 1: Go to the bookstore page for your college.

• North Seattle College
• Seattle Central College
• South Seattle College

Step 2: Click the button “Enter the Bookstore.”

Step 3: Once you are in the online bookstore, click the “Sign In” button and create an account. Remember your account information.

Step 4: Use the search bar to find your etextbooks and course materials by ISBN, title, or author.        
Tip: Check your course syllabus on Canvas or ask your instructor for the correct ISBN or title.       
If you can’t find the textbooks or course materials on the bookstore website, let your instructor know so they can assist you, discuss options, and find alternatives.

Step 5: Select your preferred access duration (how long you need it) and add the item to your cart.

Step 6: Complete the checkout process. Pay with credit card, Apple Pay, or PayPal.

Step 7: Once purchased, access your ebook immediately online or via the VitalSource Bookshelf app.

 
Where can I deliver my course materials?   
For Fall Quarter, the interim bookstore will only offer digital textbooks and course materials. Information on how to access any of your purchased digital course materials will be emailed. However, there may be some physical materials ordered from other sources. In those cases, students can elect have those materials delivered to campus.  (see below).

On-campus book pick-up locations:

• North: the Micro-Market in the Grove, lower level, Health Sciences and Student Resources (HSSR)
• Central: Department of Auxiliary Services, room 1143, Broadway Edison (BE)  
• South: 109 Jerry Brockey Student Center (JMB), shared space with the Art Gallery during the first three weeks of the quarter 

No. A wider selection of options—including more options for physical/printed books and materials—should be available for Winter and Spring Quarters if faculty meet the 10-week minimum deadline before the start of the quarter. 

For Fall Quarter, the interim bookstore will only offer digital textbooks and course materials. Information on how to access any of your purchased digital course materials will be emailed. 

Students may also obtain their materials from another source as needed.

For Winter Quarter any physical book orders will be delivered directly to students at the address they have specified. However on-campus delivery locations have been established for students who prefer to pick up their materials on campus (see below).

On-campus book pick-up locations:

North: the Micro-Market in the Grove, lower level, Health Sciences and Student Resources (HSSR)
Central: Department of Auxiliary Services, room 1143, Broadway Edison (BE)  
South: 109 Jerry Brockey Student Center (JMB), shared space with the Art Gallery during the first three weeks of the quarter 

Yes, but not until Winter Quarter 2025. 

Teams are meeting now with the vendor to begin work on offering clothing and other merchandise featuring our college mascots and logos. Since we have an accelerated launch timeline, we are focusing on getting the online bookstore up and running first. 

Supplies will be available for Winter Quarter 2025. Basics like notebooks and paper, to pens, pencils, and markers, to backpacks and tote bags, to calculators and electronics, the new online bookstore website will have all the school supply essentials available. You’ll even be able to purchase gifts, bestsellers, study aids, and books for recreational reading.  

• BFET (Basic Food Employment & Training) 
• Book Scholarships 
• Emergency Aid 
• Employer Vouchers 
• Veteran’s Affairs 
• Opportunity Grant 
• Running Start 
• WorkForce Education 
• WorkFirst 
• Worker Retraining 

• North Seattle College 
• Seattle Central College  
• South Seattle College 

• North Seattle College:  Student Learning Center (SLC), located next to the Grove, in the HSSR Building, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
• Seattle Central College: Computer Center, Room #3148, Broadway Edison Building, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
• South Seattle College: Brockey Student Center, JMB 109 (Art Gallery), Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

• Video tutorial: Purchasing Digital Textbooks on VitalSource 
• VitalSource Online Support 

• North Seattle College 
• Seattle Central College  
• South Seattle College 

• BFET (Basic Food Employment & Training) 
• Book Scholarships 
• Emergency Aid 
• Employer Vouchers 
• Veteran’s Affairs 
• Opportunity Grant 
• Running Start 
• WorkForce Education 
• WorkFirst 
• Worker Retraining 

• North Seattle College 
• Seattle Central College  
• South Seattle College 

• North Seattle College:  Student Learning Center (SLC), located next to the Grove, in the HSSR Building, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
• Seattle Central College: Computer Center, Room #3148, Broadway Edison Building, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
• South Seattle College: Brockey Student Center, JMB 109 (Art Gallery), Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

• Video tutorial: Purchasing Digital Textbooks on VitalSource 
• VitalSource Online Support 

1. Obtain textbook and course material information (author, title, International Standard Book Number (ISBN)) for each course from faculty via Canvas, class syllabus, and/or email from faculty. 
2. Compile a list of all the textbooks and materials required for your classes to use when you order from the bookstore website. 
3. Search the bookstore website for textbooks and course materials by author, title, or ISBN. If you are unable to find the textbooks or course materials on the new bookstore website, please let your professors and instructors know so they can assist you, discuss options, and find alternatives.
4. Check out and pay with a credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. We are also working on options for students who use vouchers from alternative funding programs to cover the costs of books. Details on that are coming soon.

• Frequently Asked Questions 
• North Seattle College Bookstore Webpage 
• Seattle Central College Bookstore Webpage 
• South Seattle College Bookstore Webpage 

1. Obtain textbook and course material information (author, title, International Standard Book Number (ISBN)) for each course from faculty via Canvas, class syllabus, and/or email from faculty. 
2. Compile a list of all the textbooks and materials required for your classes to use when you order from the bookstore website. 
3. Search the bookstore website for textbooks and course materials by author, title, or ISBN. If you are unable to find the textbooks or course materials on the new bookstore website, please let your professors and instructors know so they can assist you, discuss options, and find alternatives.
4. Check out and pay with a credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. We are also working on options for students who use vouchers from alternative funding programs to cover the costs of books. Details on that are coming soon.

• Frequently Asked Questions 
• North Seattle College Bookstore Webpage 
• Seattle Central College Bookstore Webpage 
• South Seattle College Bookstore Webpage 

• North Seattle College: the Micro-Market in the Grove, lower level, Health Sciences and Student Resources (HSSR) 
• Seattle Central College: Dept. of Auxiliary Services, room 1143, Broadway Edison (BE) 
• South Seattle College: 109 Jerry Brockey Student Center (JMB), shared space with the Art Gallery

• North Seattle College: Kristen Burton, Executive Director of Campus Operations 
• Seattle Central College: Johnny Woods, Jr., Executive Director of Campus Operations 
• South Seattle College: Hip Nguyen, Executive Director of Campus Operations 

• North Seattle College: the Micro-Market in the Grove, lower level, Health Sciences and Student Resources (HSSR) 
• Seattle Central College: Dept. of Auxiliary Services, room 1143, Broadway Edison (BE) 
• South Seattle College: 109 Jerry Brockey Student Center (JMB), shared space with the Art Gallery

Good Afternoon Colleagues,

The form where faculty can submit their Fall 24 adoption information has been reopened. This form will remain open until the Akademos Online Bookstore website goes live in early September. Once that website is live, adoptions can be placed through that portal.

For Fall 24 we are employing a digital first strategy, meaning that adoptions for Fall 24 will not be guaranteed to be in print. Should print resources be available, they can be ordered, however the default will be for digital materials available via students’ Canvas dashboard. Customized packets will be available to order through the Online Bookstore website.

Going forward, the lead time for adoptions is 10 weeks minimum (industry standard), so please be prepared to submit Winter 25 adoptions within the first few weeks of Fall quarter if you require printed materials. Once it is live, the Akademos Online Bookstore adoption portal will show your previous course adoptions for reference and will also show the availability of different material formats (print, digital, etc.).

Fall adoption form: https://forms.office.com/r/xvke4uH2QZ 

For any questions, please reach out to Angela Gurney, Director of Purchasing Services, angela.gurney@seattlecolleges.edu.

Colleagues,   
   
As you may know, our college bookstore management vendor, Follett, has terminated its contract with Seattle Colleges. Akademos will be our online bookstore provider beginning with Fall Quarter 2004.  

We have developed a webpage for reference with details about the bookstore transition. Information will be added there as it becomes available.

Our college bookstores are currently closed

Both the online and on-campus bookstores at North, Central, and South have closed, effective Friday, July 19, 2024, and they will remain closed for most of the summer. Follett’s contract ended on August 6.  
   
Each college is determining how best to serve the needs of their students with regard to a brick-and-mortar bookstore on campus. Our new provider, Akademos, will operate online only. It will be up to each college to manage any on-site bookstore models. Most bookstore orders will be mailed to student homes unless the student requests their order to be picked up on campus. Each campus is managing that separately. 

New bookstore website in development

Our IT team is now working with Akademos on integrating our systems and developing a Seattle Colleges districtwide bookstore website. All course material purchases will be made online going forward. This new bookstore website will require much of the summer to implement. A tentative target launch date has been identified as Wednesday, September 4, for faculty and administrative users.  

Once the website is up and running, there will be an opportunity for faculty who did not submit their book order before the summer break to put in an order for digital books for their students that should be available early in Fall Quarter. Training will be provided by Akademos.

More information to come

Leadership on each campus and district staff coordinating the transition are meeting regularly with Akademos to develop a timeline that will include IT and financial integration, website development, and marketing and communication schedules. We will have more detailed information to share with the Seattle Colleges community soon.  

Questions and concerns should be directed to the following leaders.

• North Seattle College: Kristen Burton, Executive Director of Campus Operations
• Seattle Central College: Johnny Woods, Jr., Executive Director of Campus Operations
• South Seattle College: Hip Nguyen, Executive Director of Campus Operations
   

Thank you for your patience as we navigate this situation.

Julienne DeGeyter 
Vice Chancellor of Finance and Operations, Seattle Colleges

There will be a change in bookstore operations at each of the colleges in the coming year. Following is information for faculty and staff who are a part of the textbook adoption process. More information will come to provide further instruction and support.

Akademos will serve as Seattle Colleges’ bookstore vendor for Fall Quarter 2024 and for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Follett, our current vendor, has chosen not to renew its contract but is committed to completing all adoptions for Summer Quarter and fulfilling all student commencement regalia orders at our campus bookstores.

The relationship with Akademos is a temporary contract for the coming academic year only to allow us the time to engage in an inclusive process with stakeholders from faculty, students and others to determine what the Seattle Colleges students and faculty need in a bookstore function. This will guide the steps we take to provide this function in the future.

What faculty need to know and do

Please do not submit Fall Quarter adoptions to Follett. Submit Fall Quarter adoptions via this form:

https://forms.office.com/r/xvke4uH2QZ 

When sending the adoption list, please note the:

• Course number
• Section number
• Campus
• ISBN, and
• Whether the course material is required or optional

Once we have the new contract in place, these adoptions can be sent to Akademos for processing. Note: any adoptions for Fall Quarter already submitted to Follett will be transitioned to Akademos.

The majority of book orders will be delivered directly to students, however over the course of Summer Quarter, on-campus delivery locations will be identified for students who prefer to pick up their materials on campus.

Why this is happening

On April 18, Follett informed Seattle Colleges that it is exercising its right to decline renewing its service to Seattle Colleges with a 120-day notice, as permitted in the contract.

Since receiving notice from Follett, the Finance Office has revisited vendors who previously submitted proposals in our solicitation for bookstore management vendors to minimize the time needed to research vendors who can provide this service. This review has identified Akademos as an acceptable vendor for our upcoming 2024-2025 academic year.

The transition to Akademos is an emergency response to the short notice of termination provided by Follett. It allows us to minimize the interruption of course material access for our students and faculty across the district. We understand that this is not an ideal scenario—and it will not solve all issues involved in this process—but we will proceed to provide access to course materials via a reliable vendor.

What to expect next

We will provide a timeline and instructions for Fall Quarter 2024 adoptions as soon as possible. Angela Gurney, Director of Purchasing, is working with Follett and Akademos to gather information to share openly as we finalize our contractual commitments.

If you have questions about the textbook process with Akademos, please contact Angela Gurney.

We will provide more information in early Fall 2024 of the process we will initiate to make bookstore services decisions beyond the 2024-2025 academic year.