UMass Amherst will replace its on-campus textbook store later this year with a virtual store operated by Amazon.
Under a five-year contract Amazon will provide online textbook ordering through the UMass Amherst website, operate an on-campus pick up location and provide free delivery to off campus addresses in Amherst and five surrounding communities. UMass spokesman Ed Blaguszewski said the change is being made to save students money.
"Up to about $380 annually per student based on national estimates of what students pay for books," said Blaguszewski.
UMass is the third university Amazon has contracted with to supply textbooks and course study materials. The others are Purdue and the University of California at Davis.
