The University of North Texas has signed an agreement with Barnes & Noble College as the new operator for the UNT Bookstore.

The contract was approved by the UNT System Board of Regents at the May 16-17 meeting. The agreement between UNT and Barnes & Noble College is for 12 years.

Barnes & Noble College is set to take over operations of the university bookstore on Aug. 8.

“As UNT advances with improvement plans in the new University Union, having Barnes & Noble College on board will offer expanded services and boost offerings to students,” said Elizabeth With, vice president for student affairs.

“We look forward to bringing a dynamic campus store to the University of North Texas that will deliver flexible, affordable course material solutions for students in an unmatched retail environment that celebrates Mean Green pride,” said Max J. Roberts, president and CEO, Barnes & Noble College.

Barnes & Noble College intends to enhance current student programs in the bookstore and incorporate important student services such as textbook rentals and textbook buy-back programs.

Because of the upcoming construction of the new University Union, the bookstore will be housed in a temporary building at the northwest corner of Avenue C and Chestnut Street behind McConnell Hall until 2015.

Barnes & Noble College operates nearly 700 campus bookstores nationwide for such institutions as Harvard, Yale, the University of Pennsylvania, Indiana University and Georgia Tech.

In Texas, Barnes and Noble College runs more than 65 campus bookstores throughout Texas, including Texas Tech, Rice, SMU, Texas A&M, TCU and the University of Houston.

As the contract for existing operator, Follett Corporation, neared its end on March 31 of this year, requests for proposals were solicited by UNT. Both Follett and Barnes & Noble College submitted proposals, with Barnes & Noble’s chosen by the university.