Temple University's bookstore has found a new home at the center of campus life. The freshly renovated Paley Hall opened its doors on Monday, August 18, with a spacious two-story layout aimed at enhancing the Temple community's shopping experience. Senior associate vice president of business affairs and administration, Jonathan Reiter, expressed his excitement about the bookstore's location. "Our new bookstore’s home along the main thoroughfare of campus will make it convenient for students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors and elevate their shopping experience with its open, spacious layout and broader selection of merchandise," Reiter told Temple News.
The transition into this new space began on August 4, ahead of the fall semester, to give students the opportunity to utilize the store's resources from day one. In a nod to community and nostalgia, campus store manager and alum Meghan Messner said, "The essence of the Bell Tower location is all about community. We’re going to have a lot of fun creating window displays to share with students, faculty and campus visitors!" The store's integration of technology is set to streamline the process of obtaining course materials, a boon for students navigating the start of their academic year, as James Pallante, regional manager of Temple’s store, explained, "Students will be able to shop by their ID number to get everything they need for classes."
Follett, which now operates the Temple bookstore after taking over from Barnes & Noble in June 2024, aims to connect deeper with the community through an expanded inventory that includes traditional gear, luxury brands, and Philadelphia-centric items. According to Emmanuel Kolady, CEO of Follett Higher Education, "the new and improved Temple University bookstore has been reimagined as a destination for learning, collaboration and fun." Further community collaboration is in the works, with plans to feature creations by art students and local artists.
More than just a retail hub, the renovated Paley Hall bookstore also serves as an event space for alumni author readings and provides a conferencing area. "The space is completely free for our community and alumni to use and will allow for meetings and events," Pallante remarked. The location, convenience, and now, the co-opting of cultural and academic synergy, are poised to make this bookstore a central gathering spot on campus.
Operation hours for the new store are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it is closed on Sundays. For those unable to visit in person, the online store will continue operating as usual, offering the same comprehensive faculty course adoption process and selection of products. As Reiter underscored, the ambitions for Paley Hall's bookstore reach beyond commerce, aiming to forge a vibrant space for connection within the Temple University community.
