With the Cerritos College bookstore going through its second management change in three years and in the midst of a complete renovation, Textbooks Incorporated, the discount bookstore across the street from the Cerritos campus, remains a pillar of stability.

Serving Cerritos students for seven years, it is a family owned and run business that has never changed hands.

Originally located in the shopping center at the northwest corner of Studebaker and Alondra, Textbooks, Inc., moved to its present closer-to-campus location in the spring of 1999, when it occupied the space left vacant by Copies R Us at the northeast corner of the intersection.

While it offers a limited amount of school supplies such as paper, notebooks, pens, pencils, erasers, hi-liters and Scantrons, what Textbooks, Inc., specializes in is delivering low prices on textbooks.

“We’re a discounter,” store manager Mike Ball said.

“We discount our textbooks 10 to 40 percent, depending on the cost to me for bringing the book in.

“We’re trying to save the students as much as possible.”

Cerritos College student Regina Kelly said Textbooks, Inc., has a theater book she wants for $34.95. “They’re going to check the price [at the campus bookstore]. If it’s lower, then they’ll give me the book at a lower price over here.”

The new owners of the campus bookstore expect to have textbooks available by the summer session and have the bookstore completed and in full operation by the beginning of the fall; however, Ball said, he has had some students come into his store who don’t think it’s going to happen.

Ball adds, however, that he has not had contact with any instructors who might be worried about having books available for the summer semester.

“I am making sure that I do have plenty of inventory. But I’d be surprised if they’re not ready by the first day of summer school,” Ball said. “I mean they almost have to be. So I think they’ll be okay, but yeah, we are bringing in extra books just in case.”

Among the motivating factors Ball lists for students to go to Textbooks, Inc., are that it is located right across the street from campus and the lines are usually shorter than they are at the campus bookstore . “Plus we’re kind of a full service bookstore. You just come in with your schedule, and we grab the books for you, as opposed to you have to walk around and find it yourself.

“And obviously we’re cheaper.”

Bridgette Cabral, a Cerritos College student who was selling a used book back to Textbooks, Inc., said, “I love that you don’t have to look for your own books. It goes much quicker.”

Textbooks, Inc., usually has a large selection of used books, and it buys books back from students all year long.

As far as its return policy goes, Ball says, “It’s very similar to the campus store or other bookstores. We’ll give you . . . at the beginning of each semester about two weeks from the beginning of class to bring it back or exchange it. Any books purchased after that is 48 hours.”

Cerritos College student Cynthia Aguago is worried. She said, “I hope people don’t find out about this store, cause then the lines will get long.”

Cabral added, “Yeah, if the other bookstore doesn’t open in time everyone will have to come here.”