MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State University Bookstore, operated by Barnes & Noble, will reopen Saturday, July 21, at its new location in the nearly completed Art and Journalism Building.

A Starbucks Cafe which is connected to the bookstore will open the following week.

As well as offering a full array of Starbucks coffees and desserts, customers may check out free laptop computers. Because the cafe features wireless technology, Ball State students may use the laptops to browse the Internet or answer e-mail, said Melissa Brinker, bookstore manager.

Another key improvement over the former bookstore located in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center is the new bookstore is double the size, Brinker said.

"Our section for general reading material is doubled and we have much larger spaces for textbooks and clothing," she said. "The atmosphere of the store with all the red mahogany look has a real Barnes & Noble feel to it, like you would find at one of their locations in a bigger city."

Bookstore hours will be 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

Starbucks will maintain longer hours. It will be open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.

In other related Art and Journalism Building news, the Atrium, a food court featuring five dining areas, will tentatively open at the beginning of the fall semester. A final opening date will be announced later.

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Brinker at (765) 285-8090.)