Los Rios Community College District Closes Bookstores at Two Locations

Sacramento, California – Starting July 1, 2026, the physical bookstores at Cosumnes River College (CRC) and Folsom Lake College (FLC) will close, forcing students at those campuses to find new options for acquiring textbooks and other educational supplies. Gabe Ross, chief strategy and communications officer for the Los Rios Community College District, confirmed the closures in a recent announcement.

After the closures, only the bookstores at American River College (ARC) and Sacramento City College (SCC) will remain open. These colleges are expected to handle any increased customer traffic resulting from CRC and FLC’s bookstore eliminations. Ross cited a significant change in student behavior as a key factor behind the decision.

“Since the COVID pandemic, our students are opting more and more for online classes,” Ross said. “Combined with an aggressive shift to free online resources for students by many faculty at our colleges, it’s made it nearly impossible for bookstore revenues to cover the costs of running four separate brick-and-mortar bookstores.”

In response to this shift, Los Rios is seeking proposals from vendors specializing in college bookstore operations. The aim is to develop a model that emphasizes in-person services at ARC and SCC while also expanding online ordering capabilities for students from all campuses.

As for the physical spots occupied by CRC’s “Hawk’s Nest” and FLC’s “Falcon’s Roost,” both colleges are considering how to repurpose these spaces for student benefit. ARC bookstore management has not publicly commented on the planned changes, but Kaitlyn Colignon, ARC’s Public Information Officer, expressed optimism about the implications of the closures.

“We anticipate that we will be able to support both ARC students and students across Los Rios who may need to visit an in-person bookstore without issue,” Colignon said.

The closure of CRC and FLC bookstores marks a significant move towards a more digital-focused educational approach within the Los Rios Community College District. Students will still have access to necessary resources through the remaining bookstores and online avenues.