Bookstores serving students at the two largest universities in Kansas are closing, largely because of dwindling textbook sales.

The Levin family owns the Jayhawk Bookstore in Lawrence near the University of Kansas and Varney’s Book Store in Manhattan, where Kansas State is located. The family has announced the closure of both bookstores.

Jeff Levin says Jayhawk Bookstore’s “bread and butter” was textbooks. He says the owners had predicted a significant loss for January, but it was even deeper than anticipated. He cites a rise in online open-access material and more students ordering books online.

And he says if people aren’t coming in the door to buy books, they don’t buy many supplies either.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports (http://j.mp/292KGQo) the Jayhawk Bookstore closed last week. Varney’s closed last month.

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Information from: Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World, http://www.ljworld.com.