There was little fanfare yesterday when Barnes & Noble officially took over the Hill University Bookstore on UAB’s Southside campus. The move brings some of the resources of one of the nation’s largest booksellers to Birmingham’s city center area.

In a press release Richard Margison, UAB vice president for financial affairs and administration said, “This relationship will allow us to enhance the bookstore services we provide to our faculty, staff and students.”

The college announced that the bookstore giant will be providing $25,000 annually to assist students with the purchasing of books for class. The monies will be distributed as scholarships that are being created now.

Barnes & Noble will also spend $600,000 to improve the bookstore’s look and technological capabilities in order to provide better service to the university. Students should be able to electronically purchase books at the time of online class registration that correspond with their classes by spring 2008. It is part of a growing trend that has major chains managing college and university bookstores.