The CRC Bookstore will be going through some changes in future semesters. Visit this page to read the latest announcements.
August 10, 2026
Check Your Adoptions at the New Bookstore!
Please take a moment to ensure that your textbook adoptions for fall 2026 are displayed correctly in the new online bookstore. The easiest way to check this is to click the View required textbooks and course materials link in the class schedule. The link is located inside the Class Section Details popup window for each course. The link will take you to the list of course materials at the new bookstore website.
- If your textbook adoptions are correct, no further steps are needed.
- If no textbook information is showing for your class, you may see a message which says “Course Materials Selections Pending.”
- If you need to make your adoptions or change your adoptions: Sign in to the new Adoptions and Insights Portal with your Okta login. Watch the AIP Demo Video to learn more.
Repeat for each of your classes!
As we continue the transition to the new online bookstore, please watch for additional information and resources from Linda Cullens, the new bookstore manager for the Los Rios Community College District.
Note: If you had not previously turned in an adoption, or if something needs to be changed, please email Linda Cullens at cullenl@losrios.edu and please supply the author, title, and ISBN of the textbook(s) that are required for your course, or any other information and she will be happy to assist.
Tools to help you update the ZTC status for a course:
- ZTC eForm
- Instructions: Using the Employee Self Service ZTC Reporting Tool to Add or Remove the ZTC Symbol
- AI Helper: CRC's ZTC and Required Instructional Materials Helper
Thank you for ensuring that textbook information is accurate for students!
July 14, 2026
Introduction from Linda Cullens and Information on New Adoption Process
Greetings, Professors! My name is Linda Cullens, and I am the new bookstore manager serving the colleges in the Los Rios District. I am excited to partner with you in providing course materials for your students.
We know it's summer break and many of you will not be checking email, but for those who are, we wanted to share the new process for textbook adoptions.
We have retained a Fall semester adoption list from Follett, the previous bookstore operator, but just to make sure nothing is missing, we would like you to check your course(s) on the Barnes & Noble College (BNC) website.
If you had not previously turned in an adoption, or if something needs to be changed, you can simply email cullinl@losrios.edu with the author, title, and ISBN of the textbook(s) that are required for your course, or any other information, and we will take care of it.
Alternatively, you can go to our Adoptions and Insights Portal (AIP) and enter the adoption information. AIP is a Single Sign On (SSO) and should be linked with your Los Rios login information. It will only show the classes you are scheduled to teach, but if you need access to other sections/classes, let me know and I can adjust the access for you.
We will be providing upcoming training for AIP, or you may view a demo video to get started.
Thank you again, and I look forward to working with you.
- Linda Cullins, Store Manager, Los Rios Community College Stores
Other useful links:
July 11, 2026
Transition to Barnes & Noble
As we continue our transition to Barnes & Noble College (BNC), we would like to share several important updates for faculty, staff, and departments.
We recognize that many faculty are currently off contract and may not be checking email regularly during the summer. However, we wanted to share these updates now so that those preparing for the Fall 2026 semester have access to the latest information.
Virtual Bookstore Go Live!
The Cosumnes River College virtual Bookstore will officially go live on Monday, July 13, under the management of Barnes & Noble College (BNC). Barnes and Noble looks forward to serving students, faculty, and staff as we begin this new partnership.
Bookstore Account and Textbook Adoption Information
A new Bookstore Account and Textbook Adoption Information webpage is now available for faculty, staff, departments, and external agencies. The site includes information on:
- Department and program bookstore accounts
- District- and college-managed student purchasing programs (e.g., EOPS, CalWORKs, Promise Program, and Foundation textbook scholarships)
- External agency purchasing processes
- College bookstore contact information
- Frequently Asked Questions regarding textbook adoptions, bookstore services, account setup, and bookstore hours
- A Barnes & Noble Adoption & Insights Portal (AIP) Faculty Training Guide to help faculty become familiar with the new textbook adoption platform
Please refer to the Bookstore Account and Textbook Adoption Information webpage for the latest bookstore procedures and resources.
Faculty Textbook Adoptions
Barnes & Noble College will be sending a separate communication directly to faculty regarding the Fall 2026 textbook adoption process. That communication will include instructions for:
- Reviewing textbook adoptions that were transferred from Follett
- Updating existing adoptions or submitting new textbook adoptions
- Accessing the Adoptions & Insights Portal (AIP) using Los Rios single sign-on credentials
- Additional training opportunities and resources to support the new adoption process
Faculty who would like to become familiar with the new process before receiving the Barnes & Noble communication are encouraged to review the AIP Faculty Training Guide available on the Bookstore Account and Textbook Adoption Information webpage.
Linda Cullens, Store Manager for the Los Rios Community College Stores, will serve as the primary bookstore contact for faculty regarding textbook adoptions and will provide additional guidance in her upcoming communication.
Thank you for your continued patience and partnership throughout this transition. We appreciate everyone's support as we work together to provide a new virtual bookstore experience for our students and campus community.
March 27, 2026
Bookstore Transition and Textbook Adoptions Announcement
It's time to report textbook and instructional material adoptions and ZTC status. The college is transitioning to a new bookstore vendor, but the change in the textbook/supplies adoption portal will not begin until Fall 2026. Until then, Follett remains our official bookstore provider. It's very important to report your textbook adoptions and instructional materials to Follett, even if your course uses OER.
We need information now for Summer and Fall 2026. These adoptions will be shared with Barnes & Noble so that their commerce site is accurate when it goes live in July.
If you need to add or remove the Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) symbol to your classes, please also complete the ZTC eForm.
Get questions answered quickly:
- CRC's ZTC and Required Instructional Materials Helper - an AI helper created by AERC to help answer questions quickly, and link you to helpful instructions.
- Want instructions the old fashioned way? Check out these slide decks:
- Instructional slideshow: Using Follett Discover to Report Commercial Textbook Adoptions to the Bookstore
- Instructional slideshow: Reporting Material Costs and Adopting Supplies at the Los Rios Bookstore
- Instructional slideshow: Using the Employee Self Service ZTC Reporting Tool to Add or Remove the ZTC Symbol
Thank you for helping ensure students have accurate course material information before they register.
February 10, 2026
Update on the Campus Store Retail Services Request for Proposal
The District’s prior bookstore contract with Follett concluded on June 30, 2025, and was extended for an additional year through June 30, 2026 to ensure continuity of services while a formal RFP process was conducted. This extension allowed the District and Colleges to undertake a comprehensive and deliberate review of bookstore services, affordability, delivery models, and long-term operational sustainability.
Following this year-long review, comprehensive RFP process, and formal evaluation, the District has selected Barnes & Noble College as the recommended bookstore vendor.
As part of this transition, the District is moving toward a hybrid campus store model that reflects evolving student needs and purchasing behaviors. Under this model, American River College and Sacramento City College will continue to operate physical campus store locations. Cosumnes River College and Folsom Lake College will transition to an online bookstore for textbooks, classroom materials and promotional items. All colleges will expand access to online course materials, merchandise, and services through enhanced digital platforms. This approach allows the District to reduce reliance on traditional brick-and-mortar operations while increasing affordability, accessibility, and flexibility for students.
This recommendation reflects the collective work of the evaluation committee, made up of faculty, classified professional, administrator, and student voices, and the District’s procurement process. Throughout the process, the committee prioritized student affordability, access to course materials, service quality, technology integration, Open Educational Resources (OER), and long-term sustainability. The recommendation to award the contract to Barnes & Noble College is scheduled to be presented to the Board of Trustees at its February 18, 2026 meeting.
The Bookstore Evaluation Committee was intentionally structured to ensure broad, cross-functional, and governance-aligned input. Membership reflected a balance of instructional, student services, administrative, classified, and student perspectives from across the colleges, along with District participation. The committee’s work was further supported by independent financial and operational analysis to ensure objectivity and rigor throughout the evaluation.
Committee members reviewed written proposals, evaluated qualitative and financial criteria, participated in vendor presentations and extended question-and-answer sessions, and applied a standardized scoring rubric in accordance with District procurement requirements. Throughout the process, the committee prioritized student affordability, access to course materials, service quality, technology integration, Open Educational Resources (OER), and long-term sustainability.
At this stage, the District is completing final contract close-out activities and preparing for Board consideration. Once Board action has occurred, additional details will be shared regarding implementation planning, transition timelines, and campus-specific next steps. We’ll be working closely with faculty leadership to make sure any changes to the adoption process are as seamless as possible and well communicated. We expect the transition to take place throughout the spring and be complete this summer.
We recognize that bookstore services directly affect students, faculty, and staff, and we appreciate the time and care invested by committee members and campus representatives throughout this process. Thank you for your patience as we move into the next phase of implementation.
Additional information will be shared as it becomes available. Please bookmark this page for future updates.
December 1, 2025
Bookstore Update
A reminder that the CRC Bookstore will be there to serve our faculty and students throughout the Spring 2026 semester.
Faculty, please place your book orders for Spring through Follett and know that your students will be able to pick up books right here at our CRC campus.
Eventually we will be moving away from a physical space for our bookstore, but for the upcoming Spring 2026 semester, we have our same bookstore services.
Moving forward, only ARC and SCC will have brick and mortar bookstores. CRC and FLC will transition to an online bookstore for textbooks, classroom materials and promotional items beginning July 1, 2026, but all students districtwide will have access to the bookstores at our larger campuses.
As we stated in the September 22, 2025 Inside CRC issue, more students are taking classes online, and roughly 75% of CRC course sections are Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) courses which means only about 25% of CRC classes now require a traditional textbook (whether print or digital). As a result, bookstore sales have significantly declined, and it’s become clear that companies who operate in-person bookstores do not see a path to sustainability at campuses with a minimal number of traditional textbooks.
Please direct any questions to CRC Vice President of Administrative Services, Theresa Tena.
September 22, 2025
Bookstore Changes Coming Soon
The college bookstore is about to go through some big changes. A districtwide Request for Proposals (RFP’s) for Campus Store Retail Services was issued August 26. Faculty supplied invaluable feedback related to the course materials section of the RFP.
Moving forward, it’s likely that only ARC and SCC will have brick & mortar bookstores. CRC and FLC will likely transition to an online bookstore for textbooks, classroom materials and promotional items, but all students districtwide will have access to the bookstores at our larger campuses.
With more students taking classes online, and in large part because of our strong efforts to expand the use of Open Educational Resources (OER) and Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) courses, only about 25% of CRC classes now require a traditional textbook (whether print or digital). As a result, bookstore sales have significantly declined, and it’s become clear that companies who operate in-person bookstores (including to the bookstore consultant who has worked with CRC and the other Los Rios colleges for the past several years) may not see a path to sustainability at campuses with a minimal amount of traditional textbooks.
Make no mistake, the work to expand the use of OER/ZTC materials at CRC has been an incredibly positive transition for our students, saving approximately $13 million dollars over the last 3 years. Thank you to the outstanding CRC faculty and staff who have led this effort, truly positioning CRC as a national leader in affordability.
The college has until July 1, 2026 to have a new course materials delivery process in place, and we’ll be working with faculty leadership to ensure this transition is smooth.
Discussions are also beginning to determine how best to utilize the current bookstore space for student benefit in the future.
Please direct any questions to CRC Vice President of Administrative Services, Theresa Tena.