Almost three-fourths of the Holmes Student Center Bookstore’s sales profits are used to cover operating expenses, while the rest is returned to the student center.

Judd Baker, student center director, said all revenues from the bookstore go into an operating account for the entire student center.

The fund comes from profitable parts of the student center, such as food services and the games room, Baker said.

Money generated “goes back into the building, and that’s the way it should be,” Baker said.

The bookstore made net sales of about $3.75 million in Fiscal Year 1989, but expenses and other costs lowered net profit to about $220,000, according to Neil Kepner, accountant for the student center accounting office.

Baker said the average expenses at the bookstore consume about 72 percent of the net profit.

The bookstore needs to be remodeled, Baker said, but the necessary repairs on the student center tower has temporarily delayed the changes.

He said the store has been moderately reorganized to use space more efficiently in areas that were “looking cluttered.”

Patricia Hewitt, associate vice president of business and operations, said a commission was formed several years ago to recommend if the bookstore should be turned over to a private firm, but it was decided that it stay part of NIU.

“I think they (the committee) made a real good decision,” Baker said.

Bookstore Director Mitch Kielb said the bookstore employs about 100 students through the semester and about 20 full-time employees.