Coastal Carolina University has selected the Follett Higher Education Group to operate and manage the university’s bookstore.

Under the five-year agreement, Follett, one of the nation’s largest used-textbook providers, will begin operating out of Coastal’s current bookstore location by March 2. By June, the bookstore will move into its new location on the first floor of Coastal’s new welcome center, which is under construction. Follett will assist in the development of the 11,000-square-foot new store, including interior design and furnishing.

With the agreement, the Coastal community will have the opportunity to select merchandise and services online through efollett.com or in the on-campus store. Coastal faculty and students will receive a high level of customer service and savings through Follett’s vast inventory of used books and its technological resources, according to Stella Cooper, director of Coastal’s campus services.

Follett is developing a Coastal virtual bookstore through efollett.com to service the needs of the campus community. Faculty will be able to place orders for their course readings through efollett.com and students will be able to purchase textbooks online. Students will also have the opportunity to return books bought online to the campus bookstore.

Follett serves more than four million students and more than 300,000 faculty through more than 655 stores.