When summer arrives, most of the student population is off of campus and back at home. That doesn’t mean campus is empty, however.

There are still summer classes, library assistants, coffee shop workers, custodians and more. The majority of students may be gone, but there are still summer classes, and there are men and women hard at work to keep that positive campus experience going.

William Ebensperger, store manager at the Oakland University Barnes & Noble Bookstore, is one such man.

Ebensperger has been manager for nearly three years and shared some tips and insight with The Post.

Finding the right option

According to Ebensperger, the store offers five different ways to get books: purchase used, purchase new, rent used, rent new and purchase e-books.

If any book is available to be rented, that is the place to go from a cost standpoint, Ebensperger said.

“Most students are pretty diligent about getting their books back,” Ebensperger said. “It’s a way for them to save money. We hope that they try that.”

Students also have the option of selling back books after they are done using them.

“During finals is our best time to do buy-backs,” Ebensperger said. “If you are going to be selling books back, that week of finals is the best to come. It also coincides as the time when rentals are due.”

Not just a place to purchase

“One thing that maybe a lot of people don’t know is that almost all of the people we hire are students,” Ebensperger said.

Other than his managers, an associate and two graduates, Ebensperger said most of the workers are students. There are currently around 15 or 16 student workers.

“Another thing that a lot of students don’t realize is that a percentage of what they spend in the bookstore goes directly back to the OC,” he said. “If you’re spending money here, it’s actually going to help improve the OC.”

When it comes to working at the store, Ebensperger said his favorite part is the people and “interacting with the students.”

“My favorite time of year is graduation,” he said.

When students come to get their cap and gown, he said always asks about their degree and what they’re going to do next. He said the change in the students’ attitudes always surprise him.

“It’s like a whole different person – that’s what’s nice to see,” Ebensperger said. “Really interacting and helping the students get the best for their value.”

For more information visit www.oakland.bncollege.com or visiting the store’s Facebook page.

Contact Managing Editor Kaylee Kean at [email protected].