Important Note About NOVA Bookstore Contract and Textbook Publishers

This is a reminder that direct course material sales from the publisher or providing a link in Canvas to a publisher’s web site to purchase materials directly violate our bookstore services contract with Barnes & Noble. This is a problem when publishers attempt to contact faculty and staff directly to “guarantee savings” or “guarantee the lowest price” on course materials purchased directly from the publisher.

Please do not send publisher links to students promoting “special offers” from the publisher.

Note that direct-from-publisher materials cannot be purchased with financial aid funds and are typically non-returnable to the publishers, which then confuses students who attempt to return directly-purchased materials to the bookstore.

NOVA is contractually partnered with Barnes & Noble to be its textbook and course material provider. In accordance with this contract, Barnes & Noble operates all campus bookstores and is the exclusive provider of all textbooks and course materials – print, digital and any materials directly linked through Canvas. Additionally, Barnes & Noble is the only retailer able to accept financial aid transactions.

If you have any concerns/questions, including regarding the pricing of course materials, please reach out to Rob Johnson, director of sustainability and auxiliary services, or contact your campus bookstore for assistance.

Contact info by campus is available here: https://www.nvcc.edu/bookstore/.

Thank you!

Submitted by
Rob Johnson, Director of Auxiliary Services, ROJohnson@nvcc.edu