California State University, Fresno Association, Inc.

 Kennel Bookstore is an operating unit within the California State University, Fresno Association, Inc. (Association).  The Association is comprised of the following operating units: Kennel Bookstore, Student Recreation Center, University Dining Services, University Courtyard (Housing), University Student Union and the Save Mart Center. The Association also provides management, accounting management, information services and legal services to other campus auxiliary organizations including the Fresno State Foundation, the Agricultural Foundation, Associated Students, Fresno State Programs for Children, and the Maddy Institute. 

 The mission of Kennel Bookstore is to meet the academic needs of students, faculty, and staff by providing textbooks, reference books, personal computers, software, apparel, photocopying, school supplies, and other retail convenience items.  Kennel Bookstore is required to be self-supporting and to have adequate reserves to meet future capital repair needs.

Any annual net surplus generated by Kennel Bookstore is transferred to a Board designated restricted reserve for future reinvestment back into the commercial operations that serve the campus community. The Association has a Board of Directors, of which three (3) of the voting members are Fresno State students, including the Associated Students President.  If anyone has any questions or would like more information about Kennel Bookstore, please contact Bookstore Director Ron Durham at: rdurham@csufresno.edu

California State Student Association (CSSA) Resolution on Affordable Textbook Strategies:
In 2008, CSSA created a Resolution on Affordable Textbook Strategies.  They were:

Resolution One:  Gross Margin Reduction from 29% to 25%.
Response: Kennel Bookstore has maintained its 23% margin (well below the above CSSA recommendation) for over ten years.  This margin is one of the lowest in the California State University and University of California system.

Resolution Two:  Adopt Customer Course Materials for certain subjects (English, Math, Science).
Response: Although the faculty determines what textbook is adopted for their classroom, Kennel sends out to professors once a semester materials that encourage the faculty to consider pricing, using the old edition (so students can get more money at buyback, and also save 25% of new when purchasing used), and other considerations.

Resolution Three:  Textbook Rental at a cost of 45% - 65% off of standard textbooks prices.
Response: Kennel Bookstore initiated a textbook rental program beginning in Fall 2008.  Only 6 of the 23 CSU Bookstores had a rental program at that time.  Rental pricing represents a 62% discount off the standard textbook pricing, giving the student the largest discount and thus saving them the most money.  More rental titles will be added each academic year.

Resolution Four:  Increase Used Book Ratios.
Response: Kennel Bookstore has a high ratio of used to new textbooks sales based on a national comparison:

Resolution Five:  Digital Course Materials
Response: Kennel Bookstore currently offers over 120 electronic textbook titles, the average discount on Digital Course Materials is 35%, making the cost of a new $100 book about $65.  We will continue to add titles as they become available through our current digital course material provider. 
UPDATE 2011: Kennel Bookstore currently carries 250 digital textbooks titles.  Kennel Bookstore also participated in a pilot store for the CSU Digital Marketplace, which is a systemwide effort to lower the cost of education using digital textbooks.