Barnes & Noble Comes to Caldwell ...

There is no oversized, green Barnes and Noble sign on the building, but there is now a B&N bookstore in town.

After years of being without a bookstore, the Caldwell community finally has a place to go to get the latest best sellers and magazines.

This summer the giant retail chain took over operations of the campus bookstore at Caldwell College, and in addition to a selection of trade books and a wide array of magazines, the store offers digital supplies, college apparel, a dorm life section, gift cards and of course college textbooks.  

Caldwell College President Dr. Nancy H. Blattner said that while she trusts the bookstore will “provide a welcoming environment for the Caldwell College students,” she also hopes to attract members of the local community. 

“We want the community to know that our doors are open for anyone to come by and enjoy the store.”

To that end the school has partnered with the store to bring in some big name authors. Next month the Emmy-Award winning anchor of WNET/Thirteen (PBS), will present his new book, “You are the Brand: Make the Connection and Build Your Bottom Line.” Then on October 18, world-wide Bestsellers Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark will drop by the campus to discuss and sign their books including their respective latest titles, “I’ll Walk Alone” and “Mobbed.”

“This is really an exciting aspect of the partnership,” said Blattner, who hopes to continue working with Barnes and Noble to host more author events.   

The community will have an opportunity to check out the new bookstore, enjoy complementary refreshments and stay for Adubato’s book event when the college holds an “open house” for local residents on Sept. 13, starting at 5:45 p.m.

As for the students, the new bookstore is everything you’d expect from a campus store and more. Part bookstore, part Bed, Bath and Beyond, the campus store offers nearly everything a college student would need for successful dorm and academic life. From brightly colored pillows, throws, and bedsheets to computer supplies, digital cameras and laptops, the store makes college life a bit easier. If the students actually need books, the store stocks all textbooks for the semester, too. 

Karen Discala, who works for Barnes and Noble’s college division, which works exclusively with colleges running campus bookstores, explained there are several ways students can go about obtaining their textbooks. Students can either rent a textbook, purchase a digital version, or buy new or used books at the college store. Students can also order books to be delivered to their doorstep or to the campus store. According to Discala the B&N college division operates 630 college bookstores nationwide and Caldwell is one of the newest.

When the new operator was originally considered, it was done with student participation. A student task force was formed to provide input on students’ needs and wants. According to Blattner, one member stated, “‘The students want to congregate in the bookstore. We want to feel that it’s our place.’” 

If all goes according to plan both students and community members will feel the same way.

The book events will be held in the Alumni Theater at 7 p.m. Admission is free and all the books are available for purchase ahead of time or on the evening of the event in the campus store.