Once again, it’s time for students to hit the books. For the first two weeks of the semester, students swarm the bookstores to purchase books and supplies needed for new classes. During the book-buying rush, the bookstores get busy and students become big spenders.

In some ways, the textbook-buying rush compares to the Christmas rush.

Brian Paragi, textbook manager of T.I.S. Bookstore, 707 S. Sixth St., said that the textbook-buying rush is like the first couple of days after Thanksgiving and the last few days before Christmas all crammed into one short period.

“It’s very similar (to Christmas) except that we do it twice a year,” said Willard Bredfield, general manager of Illini Union Bookstore, 809 S. Wright St.

Steve Mesker, store manager of Follett’s Bookstore, 627 S. Wright St., said the textbook-buying rush differs from the Christmas rush because while buying textbooks is something students have to do, people don’t necessarily have to purchase expensive gifts during the holidays.

In the weeks before the semester began, campus bookstore employees prepared the stores for the rush.

“We primarily hire extra help, and that starts with the buyback in December,” Paragi said. He said that T.I.S. hires new employees to work in the textbook department to tag shelves, and the head cashier hires extra cashiers for the first few weeks of the semester.

Bredfield said that Illini Union Bookstore hires extra students to help receive, price and stock books during winter break.

“This store (Follett’s), in particular, tries to get as many used books on the shelves,” Mesker said. He said it is more profitable for students as well as for Follett’s, and that it is good for advertising.

Bookstore employees run across only a few problems during the book-buying rush.

According to Paragi, it’s tough for employees to provide customer service with so many customers, but it’s not really a problem because it’s good to be busy.

Mesker said that the biggest problem is getting late book orders for courses from academic departments. He said that Follett’s has wholesale deals with other Follett’s stores as well as other bookstores so that they can obtain as many used books as possible. But this becomes difficult with late orders, Mesker said.

While shopping for textbooks, many students purchase other bookstore merchandise as well.

“Individuals will come in and hopefully pick up a few supplies while buying textbooks, and maybe a sweatshirt,” Bredfield said.

Paragi said merchandise sales also increase during the two weeks because of the extra foot traffic throughout the store. Most of the store’s profits come from the back to school season, he added.

Dan Riewerts, freshman in ACES, said he purchased his textbooks at T.I.S. on Jan. 17. He said that he also grabbed some pens while standing in line.

“The lines took you through the supplies and everything, so I ended up picking some up,” Riewerts said.

Mesker said that supply sales increase during the rush, and they purchase study aids and dictionaries as the semester progresses.

But Mesker said this year’s merchandise sales might be affected by another element.

“It’s hard to tell this year since we have the number one basketball team in the nation,” Mesker said.