6A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
MONDAY,AUGUST 18,2003
New bookstore offers used goods
By Steve Schmidt
sschmidt@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Megan True/Kansan
The Lawrence literary community turned a new page earlier this month with the arrival of Half Price Books.
Since opening its doors on Aug. 7, the store, at 1519 W.23rd St., has been bustled with activity as patrons buy and sell used books. As of last Tuesday, the store bought nearly 11,000 items and sold more than 10,500.
The Lawrence location is the 78th store of Half Price Books, the largest family-owned used bookstore chain in the nation, spanning 11 states in the Midwest and on the West Coast.
nats quite a contrast to the company's beginnings when co-founders Ken Gjemre and Pat Anderson stocked a Dallas laundromat with 2.000 of their books for resale 31 years ago.
Frances Zopp, Lawrence's Half Price store manager, said the response she got from the community was that there weren't enough used bookstores in town.
"My understanding is that other places are a little picky.We buy anything printed and recorded except for yesterday's newspaper," she said.
Store managers Frances Zopp and Jef Leisgang run Half Price Books, 1519 W.23rd St. The store opened up last month and provides competition for local bookstores, such as Borders Books, Music & Cafe and The Dusty Bookshelf.
The store also buys and sells CDs, magazines, computer programs, VHS movies, DVDs, records and books on audiotape. True to the store name, all paperbacks are sold at half of the cover price. Hardcovers and entertainment items are marked down as well. For example, a majority of CDs go for $7.98.
The store also has a large assortment of new books as a result from overstock from publishers, distributors and other stores. Although the store does not sell textbooks, it may have classic novels and other needed literary works.
Scott Robson, Little Rock, Ark., graduate teaching assistant, said he found a book to use in teaching his class for $5, and it still had the KU Bookstore tag of $15 on it.
"You can never have enough books for research, dissertations and articles," he said. "Plus you can come in and get the same stuff you need for school."
Other area bookstores said they hadn't experienced any decline in business.
"I think Lawrence is big enough for more than one used bookstore," said Tanessa Strotkamp, store manager of the Dusty Bookshelf, 708 Massachusetts St.
Doug Weaver, store manager of Borders, 700 New Hampshire St., said his store was unharmed by Half Price's opening. He said he
thought the new store could be positive for local literary enthusiasts—including himself.
"Everybody that works in the business are first and foremost book readers." Weaver said. "I
think all it can do is bring out more book buyers in the city, which is good for everybody."
Edited by Ehren Meditz
By Robert Perkins
rperkins@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Governor picks two new regents
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius appointed two new members to the Board of Regents two weeks ago.
Nelson Galle, Manhattan and Frank Gaines, Hamilton, joined the group, which has overseen higher education in Kansas since its creation as the three-person Board of Administration in 1913. Now the Board of Regents is comprised of nine people, whose decisions in matters, such as funding, affect all of Kansas' institutions of higher learning.
Megan Ingmire, the governor's spokeswoman, said Galle and Gaines were chosen in part because of their backgrounds.
Three of the nine regents ended their terms this year. Sebelius reappointed one, Janice DeBauge, Emporia, to take over the position of chairperson from Jack Wempe, Lyons.
"Education is the key to economic development," Ingmire said. "We think their diverse experiences will serve the people of Kansas well."
"The governor thought that she had a perspective that was needed for the board right now," Ingmire said.
Galle, a Kansas State University graduate, said his diverse background in business and education would help him during his term as a regent.
The governor thought Gaines and Galle had a lot to offer the board, Ingmire said.
"I taught high school for six years out of college, so I understand things from a teacher's point of view," he said.
After that, he worked at various levels of administration at Hesston Farm Equipment before owning and operating a turkey hatchery. He managed human resources at Hesston, although it wasn't called that at the time.
"Education is the key to economic development. We think their diverse experiences will serve the people of Kansas well."
Megan Ingmire governor's spokeswoman
Galle said he had much to learn about being a regent, despite working a variety of jobs. He said that he looked forward to meeting his fellow regents and serving the people of Kansas.
Gaines, the CEO and chairman of First National Bank, served in the Kansas House of Representatives from 1969 to 1972, and then in the Senate from 1973 to 1992. He also served on the Kansas Civil Service Board and as a trustee of the state pension fund for four years.
Although he could not be reached for comment, Galle said his new colleague would represent the interests of Kansans well. DeBauge agreed.
"We're just delighted to work with Mr. Gaines, with all of his experience," she said.
Gaines and Galle will serve four-year terms, pending a confirmation vote in the Kansas Senate.
- Edited by Erin Riffey
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