A new service is now keeping the textbook area in the Florida A&M University bookstore out of students’ reach.
The store now only allows employees to retrieve books, not students.
Recently the textbook section has been roped off and students are not allowed to reach for the textbooks they want.
Instead, a student has to go the counter next to the section and ask an employee for the book.
Angela Williams, store manager, said the reason for the block is mainly to provide better service.
“Sometimes people walk over there and there isn’t enough people in there, so now (the bookstore) is more one on one to help customers,” Williams said. “It’s just better service. We’re just trying something different to see if we can better serve our customers.”
Williams said the new service is also a measure of safety.
“A lot of things we’ve been doing over there is kind of a hazard,” Williams said. “It’s more so for (student’s) safety.”
From now on, Williams said the policy will only apply to the first two weeks of each semester Williams said.
Even though the policy may better assist students, some question the effectiveness of the new procedure.
Mike Michel, 19, a pharmacy student from Miami, said he does not understand the logic behind the policy and that students should be informed of new policies to prevent chaos in the bookstore.
“I thought it was done due to maintenance and rearrangement of the books,” he said, referring to the roped off textbook section. “It will take more time to get your book and it would be a lot for one person.”
Michel said that an employee behind the counter gave him the wrong textbook.
“First (an employee) got my book and I ended up purchasing the wrong book, so after returning I was allowed to get it my self,” he said.
Carneasha Parks, 19, a sophomore pharmacy student from Miami, said, “The policy is a waste of time.”
Parks said she waited behind Michel at the counter to tell an employee what textbook she needed and the wait was long.
However Williams disagreed with Parks.
“It’s been effective for both customers and employees,” William said. “Sometimes when there isn’t a whole lot of stuff to do it gives them more time to work with the customer, making sure they get the right items they need.”
Michel said there are times when he walked in the bookstore and observed some employees socializing and not working.
Williams said that sometimes employees are distracted when their friends come into the bookstore; however, an employee’s behavior is usually never a problem.
Although some oppose the new policy, other students like Federica Pierre, a senior nursing student from Fort Lauderdale, said she sees the policy as a benefit for students.
“With the money you spend there, they should get the books for you,” she said.