The BYU Bookstore is saving students' time and money this summer by adding two new programs to help provide students with quality books at reasonable prices.

The Bookstore recently agreed to sponsor the BYU Book Exchange, an online system where students can trade books without the middleman, as well as to launch Book Locker, a new program designed to give students a list of books tailored to their class schedule.

"We hope that students will see the convenience with their custom book list and be able to pick everything up quickly," said Tom Hirtzel, the BYU Bookstore textbook manager. "We hope that it will benefit the student and the university. We think it's a win -win."

Book Locker will allow students, after authenticating through Route Y, to view a complete list of textbooks according to their class schedules as well as the books' new and used prices. The site also has a map of the textbook department to help new students orient themselves before finding their books.

"Look at it," said Kaylene Vest, Bookstore marketing specialist. "It's nice and easy to use."

Book lists for summer term will be available starting June 19. Vest said the lists are available only one week before classes to prevent students from purchasing unneeded books.

"Sometimes professors change their books at the last minute," she said.

Book Locker was created by an information technology student as part of a senior project and given to the bookstore last semester.

The program aims to simplify the textbook-buying procedure and eliminate walking through the crowded aisles searching for section numbers on the printed cards.

Along with Book Locker, the Book Exchange will continue to be available to students.

The Book Exchange was originally hosted by BYUSA and run by the student who created Book Locker for the Bookstore. After the student graduated in April, the program was gifted to the bookstore so it could continue to benefit the campus community.

"We have not changed it at all," Hirtzel said. "Even though technically it is a competing store, we realize the bookstore can't be the answer for everyone."

The Book Exchange is already on Route Y and there are plans to eventually put a link to Book Locker on Route Y as well, Vest said. Until then, students can access the new program at booklocker.byu.edu.

Copyright Brigham Young University 15 Jun 2006