UConn Co-op, Where Readers and Authors Meet

https://dailycampus.com/stories/2019/10/3/uconn-needs-economic-democracy-now

From the Daily Campus this past Friday - "Unknown to this author until weeks after arriving on campus, the bookstore actually used to be managed by a student cooperative instead of a corporation. Students and faculty, democratically chosen, made key decisions about production and finances successfully carried out over a period of 40 years until the University of Connecticut chose to give the space to Barnes and Noble in 2016..."

UConn needs economic democracy now — The Daily Campus Unknown to this author until weeks after arriving on campus, the bookstore actually used to be managed by a student cooperative instead of a corporation. Students and faculty, democratically chosen, made key decisions about production and finances successfully carried out over a period of 40 years u

http://www.courant.com/sports/hc-sp-erdit-abedini-soccer-camp-20180809-story.html

Congratulations to Erdit Abedini, recipient of one of the first UConn Co-op Legacy grants for his good work making soccer available to those who otherwise would be shut out because of finances. Looking forward to seeing what the others have done and to the UConn Co-op Guest Speaker/Author this year. The UConn Co-op's legacy of community service lives on.

UConn Student, A Bulkeley Grad, Helps Kids Find Themselves At Hartford Soccer Camp Four years ago, Erdit Abedini immigrated to the United States. He spoke no English. Now, with a grant from UConn, he's helping kids just like him play soccer for the summer.

Nice story in Shelf Awareness today. Yay! Thank you Shelf!

Endowments Honor UConn Co-op Bookstore's Legacy Two endowments have been created with the remaining funds and assets of the UConn Co-op, the independent, member-owned, student-governed bookstore

ANNOUNCING -- THE UCONN CO-OP'S LEGACY TO STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY
The UConn Co-op’s spirit lives on in two endowments created with the remaining funds and assets of the Co-op. The UConn Co-op was an independent, member-owned, student governed bookstore. It served the University of Connecticut for forty-one years.

THE UCONN CO-OP LEGACY RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS
Born out of the UConn Cooperative’s commitment to public engagement, innovative entrepreneurship, and active mentorship, the Cooperative Legacy Fellowship Program provides undergraduates the opportunity to pursue funded research projects and/or creative endeavors. This award can work in conjunction with other research endeavors (such as the Holster Program, SURF, or IDEA grant) or function as a standalone grant. What follows are the basic award criteria:

a. Be an undergraduate student in good standing enrolled in the University; And

b. Be engaged in a University approved undergraduate research or creative project that is student-designed or student-led, including, without limitation, community service initiatives, research projects or education abroad.

This award is limited to those students who will be continuing at UConn the academic year following the proposed fellowship timeline. Those interested in applying for the fellowship will be required to fill out an application (details listed below) and secure a faculty mentor. Last, but certainly not least, those awarded the fellowship must register for a one-credit UNIV course meant to foster peer-mentorship and provide further project guidance.
The UConn Co-op Legacy Research Fellowship is under the direction of Cathy Schlund-Vials, Professor of English and Director of the Asian and Asian American Studies Institute. For information contact her at: 860-486-9412

THE UCONN CO-OP DISTINGUISHED GUEST SPEAKER SERIES

The UConn Co-op Distinguished Guest Speaker will be a leader in her or his field, such as, but not limited to creative writing, fine arts, music, Human Rights, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Sustainability, Puppetry Arts, History, or Diversity, and community development.

The Guest will be available for interaction with students and faculty in a manner deemed appropriate by the proposing entities. Such interactions might be speaking to classes, mentoring, working on a collaborative project, sharing conversations or meals.

Faculty, students, UConn Departments and Programs, student groups, or other UConn entities or combination of entities can make proposals for The UConn Co-op Distinguished Guest Speaker. Speakers shall be selected by the Division of Student Affairs, upon recommendation of the University’s Office of Leadership and Organizational Development. It is anticipated that the first UConn Co-op Distinguished Guest Speaker will be chosen this spring/summer and will be on campus in the fall of 2018.

For more information please contact the Office of Leadership and Organizational Development at 860.486.6588.

In addition, the UConn Co-op donated $300,000 to the Homer Babbidge Library’s Fund for Affordable Textbooks.

Congratulations to the first recipients of the UConn Co-op Human Rights Legacy Fellowship. From left to right: Erdit Abedini, Celeste Kurz, Madeline Beckman, Maria Latta.

http://dailycampus.com/stories/2016/10/10/barnes-and-noble-is-charging-students-more-than-co-op-did-price-analysis-shows

This should come as a surprise to no one. The UConn Co-op was a member-owned, student governed, non-profit bookstore whose sole purpose was to serve its members and the surrounding community. It was replaced with a national for-profit corporation whose purpose is to serve its shareholders. With the Co-op gone, there are many costs and losses to students, faculty, local schools, and area residents. Here the Daily Campus points out some of the costs to students. In resonse the University points out that in the future, B&N will fund scholarships. But the Co-op funded scholarships for many years. Indeed, those scholarships continue. Thank you to everyone who continues to like and view this page.

Barnes and Noble is charging students more than Co-op did, price analysis shows Students started the semester with a smaller selection and higher prices at the University of Connecticut’s new Barnes and Noble, according to comparison between current floor prices and the former Co-op’s financial records.

After 41 years of serving UConn and the surrounding communities, the UConn Co-op is now closed. We thank everyone for their love and support. This page will remain as a place to share memories or post old photos. You dear loyal friends, are invited to participate. Here is a photo of the very last event - Roar Reading series hosted by Elephant Rock Books.

Super Clearance! Stop in for the the final days of the UCONN Co-op and take home arm loads of great book deals.

Thank you and Farewell letter from Timothy Dzurilla, Chair of the UConn Co-op

Letter from the UConn Co-op

We were honored to have poet/performance artist Edmond Chibeau read for one of the final UConn Co-op events at the bookstore on Monday, May 23. As an added treat, special guest Lisa Taylor introduced Edmond and read a poem along with him.

Connecticut Childrens Book Fair shared their photo.
14 mins ·
We can't thank the UConn Co-op, Where Readers and Authors Meet enough for all that they have done for the Book Fair and for the world of children's literature.
Connecticut Childrens Book Fair's photo.

Booksellers, UConn Co-op Bookstore at Storrs Center with Suzy.