School Store

List of 7 frequently asked questions.

• How does the virtual book sale work?

  Once the virtual book store opens in August, families will be able to login to the Hopkins site, and there will be a link for purchasing books.  This will connect to the virtual book store from Barnes & Noble College Services.  Once there, students will use their Hopkins email account to login and purchase their books.  The site is set up so only the courses matched to the student email will show up (to avoid people purchasing for the wrong course).

• Will I receive an individual book list with all courses and books listed?

  Students will receive an individual book list from me a few days prior to the opening of the virtual book sale, so they have time to review their book needs before they start shopping.  Please note these lists will be sent directly to students at their Hopkins email address, not to parents!  

• Is everything I need available at the Virtual Bookstore?

  Unfortunately, no.  There are some items that are very Hopkins specific, so I will be sending separate information about those items (along with an invoice).  Some items are required, some you will be able to indicate you want to remove them from your invoice and you will purchase the item listed elsewhere.  This information will be much more detailed in your individual communication from me.  Once we have settled on your Hopkins purchases and you have paid your invoice, I will pack a tote bag for each student with their items, and you will be able to pick those up during Orientation (dates and times to be determined).

• Why aren't all the courses I signed up for listed in the Virtual Bookstore?

  Some courses have materials only available at Hopkins.  Information about the requirements for those courses will be on your individual book list. Also, not every course required a book.  

• On the virtual book store site, what do the notes and tabs on my courses/books mean?

  Books were all given different designations depending on the course.  Here is a quick rundown of what you might see:
  
  Required, New Only - the book is required, and either the department or teacher does not permit used books, or some books have to be purchased new in order to obtain access to digital components.
  
  Required, New or Used - the books is required, and you may select new or used options on the site.
  
  Required, Previous Purchase - the book is required, but you should already have it!  Hopkins has many courses that use books for more than one year, this designation alerts you that you only should buy the book if you lost yours, or if you are a new student to Hopkins and have placed into the course.
  
  Messaging - several courses may require some explanation from me, so if I have posted a message, please be sure to read it and follow my directions!

• What are the Supplements listed on my courses?

  The Supplements are suggestions from Barnes & Noble, similar to the rack at a grocery store where you might buy gum or a magazine.  They are not from your Hopkins teachers or me, and nothing listed under Supplements is required.  However, if you see anything you may like, you can certainly purchase it!

• How do I post books on the Families Selling Used Books list?

  You don't!  I am the only one who can post books to that list.  You first check the list titled Books Being Used Again 2021.  If you have books from that list, email me at tbray@hopkins.edu and I will post them.  Once you have sold them, please let me know and I will remove your name from the list. My hope is to allow Hopkins families to buy and sell from each other, so the buyers from the previous year recoup some of the money spent on a book, and the purchaser for the coming year saves some money on the book they need.  I recommend selling for about 1/2 the purchase price.