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Our Heritage

Innovators in course materials distribution, store systems and retail technology, MBS brings decades of experience and stability to your doorstep. Leading the way today and setting the stage for tomorrow, MBS will be here for as the industry evolves.

Our Roots Let You Grow

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Divisions

MBS Wholesale

We believe one of the best ways to help independent college stores succeed — and stay independent — is to offer access to one of the largest inventories of used books in the industry. Over the years, new connections and new partnerships have widened our network, and company-wide, our mix of new, used and digital course materials is unparalleled.

Read how the University of Dayton Bookstore utilized MBS to increase sell-through

MBS Store Technology Solutions

What does it take to offer a total store solution? Is it superior support? State-of-the-art hardware? Software that continually delivers? All of the above. A complete solution has to fit the needs of stores of all sizes and that's what we've been supplying since 1984. Continually evolving products and services, and the training to put them to use makes operating your store easier than ever before.

Learn how Mount Allison University Bookstore refines service with a turnkey solution

We've really appreciated the personal relationships that we've developed. MBS has met all of our needs.

Jeremy Johnson

Executive Director, Auxiliary Services, Kennesaw University Bookstore

MBS, from the beginning

  • 1909

    The Missouri Store Company

    The Missouri Store Company is founded, dealing in school furniture and teacher supplies

  • 1973

    University Book Services

    Missouri Store Company becomes University Book Services, switching focus to buying and selling textbooks

  • 1984

    TextAid

    TEXT-AID® textbook management service debuted, the beginning of MBS Store Technology Solutions

  • 1985

    MBS

    MBS becomes the primary wholesaler for Barnes & Noble, prompting expansive growth and greater market share

  • 1991

    Ash Street

    Relocated to current Ash Street location

  • 2000

    ASR

    Automatic Storage and Retrieval and Radio Frequency picking are added to the warehouse to shorten out-the-door time and increase capacity for distribution

  • 2005

    inSite

    inSite eCommerce suite released

  • 2006

    Rental

    MBS creates a fully integrated rental system for both brick-and-mortar stores and their eCommerce sites

  • 2008

    Sorter

    The Beumer Crossbelt High-Speed Book Sorter streamlines order fulfillment with the capacity to process up to 20,000 books an hour with unmatched accuracy

  • 2016

    Arc: the All-new Browser-based Retail Management Suite from MBS

    Arc is introduced

    Learn About Arc

  • 2017

    BNED

    MBS is purchased by Barnes & Noble Education — finding synergies to offer solutions to all aspects of the course materials industry

    Learn More

  • 2018

    MBS Direct

    MBS SimpleSource is released, revolutionizing the way stores order from MBS by combining traditional want listing and marketplace sourcing into a single step.

    Learn More