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The Co-op Bookstore is one of the two bookstores on the University of Guelph campus, the other being the University Bookstore. Located in Johnston Hall (University of Guelph), the bookstore was made to make students lives easier by offering them lower prices and convenience. The bookstore offers full counter service and only a student's class schedule is needed for a staff to bring them the right textbooks. The bookstore is being managed by students for their fellow peers, thus offering the lowest prices on campus.

History
On November 26, 1913 seven students from Guelph and Wellington County formed the OAC Students' Co-operative Association, the first bookstore on campus. In 1962, it had its name changed to the Guelph Campus Co-operative. Its main objective was to provide students with an on-campus bookstore that sold fairly priced textbooks and supplies. At the time, there was only one other competitor in downtown Guelph thus making the Co-op Bookstore very convenient for students to buy their textbooks and supplies from. H.H Ledrew invented an experimental model of Co-op that shattered the traditional way of doing business. Through his model, the board of directors were elected from students and Co-op alumni. Membership was very important in Co-op as it also meant ownership and thanks to the model, the Co-op was very successful. Today, 12 members are elected by other fellow members to deal with the bookstore's business operations.

Bookstore Services
The Guelph Co-op bookstore is one of two bookstores on campus but it is the only one owned by students. The bookstore belongs to the Guelph Campus Cooperative and offers many services to students. The bookstore offers both new and used textbooks for a low price and they also buy back textbooks from students year-round. Additionally, they offer a membership program to students that entitle them to a 5% discount at the Co-op bookstore.

Cheaper prices
The prices tend to be cheaper than the regular book store at the university. These prices can vary as much as 25% on most of the books. The reason for the various prices is from the line which is always quoted by the Co-op bookstore "You pay the lowest possible prices because we're owned by students for students."

Membership Benefits

 * 1) In order to reward the Co-op members, the Co-op bookstore offer an excellent way to reward the users of the Co-op bookstore.


 * 1) Every year a membership card is issued which allows the members to have a 5% discount on the items purchased from the bookstore.


 * 1) It gives the ownership of the bookstore as the bookstore is owned by the students.
 * 2) The rebated amount last year to the Co-op members was over $120,000.



Textbook Buyback Program
The Co-op bookstore also offers the services of buying used books. Towards the end of a semester or in the beginning of the semester, the bookstore purchases used books. This program has a lot of benefits for the students as they can get hassle free cash for their books and they can also purchase used books at discounted prices. The prices of used books vary on several conditions like the condition and demand of the book. If the book is not used in the University of Guelph but it still have a resale value in the North America, the bookstore gives another additional 10% for any book sold to wholesalers.

Green initiatives
The Co-op bookstore, which was established on November 26th 1913, has been regularly undertaking initiatives to “go green”.
 * The first and foremost action they have taken is to reduce the use of plastic bags in the store. Students are encouraged to use reusable bags and each time a bag is not used or a reusable bag is used, a 10 cent donation is made to an environmental friendly organization.
 * Regular donations are made to 3 major local environment protection organizations and projects. In the last academic year a total of $5872 was made to these partner organizations.
 * The bookstore encourages students to bring back used textbooks to be sold to other wholesale firms with an additional initiative for the students by giving them a 10% commission of the books that the wholesaler purchases from them. In addition, a tree is planted for every 1000 books bought back by the Co-op bookstore. Also, to help other students take advantage of used books at a lower price, the bookstore owns a textbook classified listing for convenience in finding used books for students.
 * Obsolete or out-dated books with little or no resale value within North America are not rejected or disposed of, rather they are sent to Africa with an organization known as “Books for Africa.” This organization have a goal of conquering famine in Africa and provide books for children who are “hungry to read and hungry to learn.”
 * Large recycling bins are located inside the bookstore for students to conveniently recycle any notes or unusable course papers.

These are some of the initiatives taken by the Co-op bookstore.