Borders pilot testing "free university"

See "Three Borders outlets plan a touch of classes," from the Sacramento Bee. From the article:

More than 350 in-store classes will be offered monthly, ranging from preparing your kids for college to getting on popular game shows. Classes begin at 10 a.m.; for a rundown on what's offered.

The goal for Borders: "To boost book sales, of course," by getting more people into stores, says project spokeswoman Trish Stokell. But, she adds, it's also aimed at transforming the stores from simple retail outlets to "centers of knowledge."

To achieve those goals, Borders has turned to Stuart Skorman, a high-energy, 59-year-old San Franciscan who has launched several successful startups. Skorman tells us he and his associates have lined up scores of local business people and celebrities to teach the classes. They won't be paid but will receive valuable exposure....

Skorman says the "experimental" Borders program is being launched in Sacramento because it's a "smaller city." It wouldn't have the same impact in places like San Francisco, he says, "where there's this huge noise level going on." If the project is deemed successful here, it will be expanded gradually to as many as 400 of Borders' 500 U.S. stores, Skorman says...

The classes, to be held mostly in the stores' CD sales departments, will be "interactive and fun," Skorman says. All are aimed at adults. Why is that? "For the simple reason," Skorman says, "that younger people don't buy as many books."