By KATIE MCDOWELL/Lifestyles Editor

Only a couple of months have passed since Barnes and Noble entered into a contract to manage the University of Montevallo’s bookstore.

While the start of school is only a few days away, UM officials said the new partnership is already a success.

DeAnna Smith, vice president of business affairs, said the university has been pleased with Barnes and Noble College Booksllers’ operation of the store.

“Our experience with them so far has been very pleasant,” she said. “I think they’re going to be a very can-do partner.”

In addition to selling textbooks, the bookstore now offers a wide range of services, including online ordering, faculty publication and student art/publications.

“Whatever the university puts out there, they provide as well,” said Wade Walker, UM’s director of budget and purchasing.

The store also offers UM merchandise, and can fill orders of all sizes for T-shirts and merchandise for both UM groups and community members.

“They have a general reading section already,” Smith said.

She expects the store will expand its general reading section, as well as offering E-reading technology and required reading for local schools.

The bookstore is currently located in Farmer Hall, although it will move to another building on Main Street sometime in 2013. Smith said its future home is known as the Lovelady building, named after the family that owned the house.

“The (Loveladys) sold it to us at quite a bargain because of their vested interest in the city and the university,” she said.

The building is located on Main Street, where a promenade will be built. Smith said both the promenade and the purchase of the Lovelady building were made possible by the partnership between the university, city and county.

The city and county are working together to create the promenade, which will run through downtown Montevallo. The county also assisted the university with the purchase and upgrades to the Lovelady building.

“They have that expertise and are willing to share it with us,” Smith said.

Smith said the promenade and the new bookstore will benefit the city, county and school, and she’s already received positive feedback from teachers, students and the community about the new partnership.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive so far,” she said.