The University bookstore and merchandise Mecca, previously housed near Talley Student Center, opened June 6 in its new location: Harrelson Hall.

Until late in the spring semester, Harrelson had an open-air bottom floor. However, construction over the spring encased the bottom floor, and the bookstore is now taking advantage of the previously-underutilized space.

The Harrelson location is temporary and will last for three years, according to Pat Hofmeister, associate director of NCSU Bookstores. Talley Student Center will be its permanent home once renovation is completed.

Bookstore employees began to move merchandise last week. Due to the short time frame and the volume of material that needed to be moved, the move was hectic, according to Hofmeister.

All services provided in the old bookstore are available at the new one. Computers, apparel, memorabilia, ties, general interest books, iPads, class rings, school supplies and, of course, textbooks are for sale.

Similar to the old location, merchandise and textbooks are separated. However, given that the new store only occupies one floor, everything is on the same level.

Each “department” has its own row of cash registers. Thirteen registers occupy the textbook department, and seven occupy merchandise — a far cry from the old location, which lacked in points-of-sale.

Rachel McCloskey, a junior in elementary education, said the extra registers would help students save time.

“[The registers are] for during rush. There are so many people trying to buy books at once. We hire temporary staff for rush. We have all of our registers running at once to try to help students get in and out,” McCloskey said.

Rush at the bookstore refers to the biannual run on textbooks, which coincides with the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.

The Brickyard, the most recognizable symbol of N.C. State’s brick-laden campus, experiences foot traffic above and beyond what the old location experienced. The Atrium — dining central — and the library — study central — are easily visible from the bookstore’s front door.

Students who work at the bookstore get paid by the hour. They also get compensated in free textbooks, which they must return at the end of each semester. However, not all textbooks are free, and employees must purchase loose-leaf books and course packs outright.

Brandon Mitchell, a junior in criminology, said getting free books is what drew him to the job.

“[Free books] is the best part about working here. The job is pretty easy,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell works throughout the school year, and takes 15 hours per semester as well.

Student workers must work at least 15 hours per week in order to receive free books, according to Jason Tarkington, a senior in sports management.

McCloskey, who also works throughout the school year, said she tends to work 10 hours per semester in the textbook department. She takes a heavy course-load of 18 to 19 hours per semester.

“We are working with what we’ve got, and [the bookstore] has turned out better than we expected,” McCloskey said.