As a result some teachers have chosen to skip the bookstore step altogether and have recommend or even require their students to purchase books from other sources or other independent bookstores. This also might be because of the history and knowledge an independent bookstore has on a particular subject that the campus bookstore can’t offer.

“I wanted students to get off campus and use those resources,” said Sheila Tully, a lecturer in anthropology and human sexuality studies.

For many semesters Tully has had her students buy books from Modern Times Bookstore, an independent bookstore located in the Mission district. Modern Times offers a wide range of literature focusing on globalization, politics, sexuality and gender studies, and fiction novels.

“They are a worker-led bookstore and have a lot of material relevant to the classes that I teach,” Tully said. “They do a lot for the community.”

Erciyes doesn’t feel the same way and thinks that teachers should be more supportive of the campus bookstore and think of them as a No. 1 option regardless.

“We are an independent bookstore as well, number one, and then I am surprised that they are not thinking of us as not a number one option,” Erciyes said. “I try to work with [campus departments] and it has been a problem and we have initiated a program just for departments just for when they order books from us as a department.”