Barnes & Noble 'First Day' saves students time and money

By Gil Pound

W ith the spring 2026 semester underway and campus roaring back to life, Georgia College & State University students are choosing the cost savings and convenience of the Barnes & Noble First Day by Course program.

Offered through Barnes & Noble at Georgia College, the First Day program gives students easy access to discounted digital course materials like courseware and e-textbooks, starting from the first day of class. No searching online retailers or finding time in a busy beginning-of-semester schedule necessary.

"We really want students to be ready for class and to take some of that pressure of cost away from them," said GCSU bookstore manager Sophia Peterson. "Convenience is also one of the biggest benefits. The student automatically knows what they need for the class. They're not having to search elsewhere."

Entering its third semester at Georgia College, First Day has collectively saved students enrolled in eligible courses an estimated $105,000.

"The main objective is to position students for academic success by providing them with their course materials the first day of class at the lowest possible price," said John Jackson, GCSU interim director of Auxiliary Services.

Faculty exercise their academic freedom to adopt textbooks and other materials required or recommended for their courses. As Georgia College's official bookstore management partner, Barnes & Noble then scours information from over 280 publishers to see which materials are available digitally at a discounted rate, usually between 20 and 40% savings from the physical format.

GCSU students enrolled in one of the more than 40 course sections that align with First Day are automatically in the program and receive an access code for their digital materials through the GeorgiaVIEW learning management system. Costs are charged to students' accounts, making it easy to pay with financial aid. Students can confidently walk into the classroom on the first day knowing that the information needed to tackle any early assignments is already at their fingertips.

Students are able to opt out of the First Day program and find the materials on their own if they choose, but statistics from fall 2025 show that 99.5% of them remained opted in. A survey among First Day participants at colleges nationwide says 83% preferred the convenience of digital materials and 78% reported that they were better prepared for the academic term.

Future plans for First Day at Georgia College, according to Jackson, include expanding availability to the summer semester and graduate level, opening the program up to even more Bobcats.

Here to help

For those needing to visit the bookstore for Bobcat apparel or school supplies, Barnes & Noble at Georgia College is offering expanded hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday, Jan. 16 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17. The bookstore is located at 135 W. Hancock St. inside the historic Campus Theatre within the heart of downtown Milledgeville.

Header Images: Barnes & Noble Georgia College is headquarters not only for textbooks and course materials, but for Bobcat merch as well. The bookstore is offering expanded hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Jan. 16 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 17 to accommodate students at the start of the spring 2026 semester. (Photos: Anna Gay Leavitt)