The Los Rios Community College District is preparing for a significant transformation in its bookstore services, with an announcement that the bookstores at Cosumnes River College (CRC) and Folsom Lake College (FLC) will close effective July 1, 2026. This change means that students attending these institutions will need to seek alternative suppliers for textbooks, testing materials, and school merchandise.
Gabe Ross, the chief strategy and communications officer for Los Rios, confirmed the impending closures. Following this transition, only the bookstores located at American River College (ARC) and Sacramento City College (SCC) will remain operational. These remaining bookstores are expected to accommodate an increase in foot traffic as students from CRC and FLC seek their resources elsewhere.
The decision to close the bookstores is largely driven by changing student preferences. Many students have turned to online courses since the COVID-19 pandemic, and faculty members are increasingly utilizing free online educational resources. These shifts have led to a decline in revenue for physical bookstores, rendering the operation of all four locations unsustainable.
In light of this move, Los Rios is actively seeking proposals from vendors who specialize in college bookstore services. The objective is to establish a new operational model that will enhance the services provided at the two remaining bookstores at ARC and SCC, which will also include options for online ordering accessible to students from all campuses.
While the closure affects CRC and FLC, students can look forward to a combination of physical and online shopping options for their materials through the remaining bookstores. In terms of the physical spaces where CRC’s “Hawk’s Nest” and FLC’s “Falcon’s Roost” are situated, both colleges are investigating potential repurposing of the areas to create new facilities that will serve their students.
Although there has been no comment yet from ARC’s bookstore management regarding the upcoming changes, Kaitlyn Colignon, the Public Information Officer for ARC, expressed confidence in their ability to effectively serve both ARC students and those from the wider Los Rios District.
The closure of the bookstores at CRC and FLC marks a notable shift towards a more digitally focused education model within the Los Rios Community College District. However, students will still have access to essential resources through the remaining bookstores and online platforms, ensuring that their educational needs continue to be met.