by Lexey Burns, Editor-in-Chief

Laurentian’s bookstore will be closing for good.

On August 3rd, Laurentian announced the closure of the bookstore’s location in the Parker Building. 

“Many changes have taken place on campus during the time we’ve been away,” an email sent from Laurentian’s Communications team said. 

“An increasing number of our students have been purchasing their books online, rather than in-person for many years,” it continued. 

According to Laurentian, the percentage of students buying their textbooks online has increased from 10-15% in the early 2010s, to approximately 50% of all students in 2019. 

In the fall of 2020 “nearly 100% of students” bought textbooks online. 

“These changes have eliminated the need for the bookstore to have a physical location,” the email read. 

Jolene Lizotte, manager of the bookstore, said in an email directed to the Laurentian community, “We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their continued support of the campus store over the past 16 years.”

Students can now order books online and will have them mailed to them. Pick up at the store will no longer be an option. 

Sara Pudim, a Law and Justice student, said that she thinks the new change is “disappointing even though moving towards online seems to be the future.”

“[The university] used the 2020 stat in their statement but students weren’t allowed to be on campus to shop.” She emphasized that the bookstore never opened for in person shopping during the 2020/2021 school year and was restricted to curbside pick up and drop off only. 

“The perk of the bookstore being in person is being able to wait and decide if you actually need the textbook and being able to look through it.”

Pudim enjoyed being able to purchase all her books at once and having them that day, instead of waiting for an online order. 

Pudim is afraid that new students coming to Laurentian will miss out on the “opportunity and craziness of the first week of school.” 

This comes just five years after the bookstore underwent construction for campus’ modernization. 

Any questions or concerns can be directed to Kim at 0927mgr@follett.com or by telephone 705-566- 8101 ext: 7404.