The Official Bookstore for Grinnell College
Located in historic downtown Grinnell, Iowa. You may visit our store in person or shop in our online store. You can choose to have us ship to your home, deliver to the campus mailroom, or you can pick up your purchase in person.
For specials and announcements, watch our Facebook page and Instagram.
Welcome to the Pioneer Bookshop — the Offical Bookstore of Grinnell College
Located in the heart of the Grinnell community, we offer a wide range of Grinnell College apparel and gifts, school and office supplies, art materials, consumer electronics, greeting cards, stationery, toys, and a thoughtfully curated selection of unique gift items.
Our bookshop features an extensive collection of fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books. Looking for something specific? We’re happy to place special book orders — and we never charge for shipping.
The Pioneer Bookshop is also your source for required printed textbooks. Beginning in fall 2025, all textbooks will be provided to Grinnell College students at no additional cost. Students will pick up printed books in-store, while digital materials will be accessible through Canvas, the College’s learning management system. Learn more about GrinnBooks below or at GrinnBooks.
Follow the Pioneer Bookshop on Facebook and Instagram.
Our reading groups are:
- Pioneer Bookshop Book Club
- Speculative Fiction Readers Group — Refer to the blog for details.
Attention Class of 2026!
- Caps and gowns can be purchased at the Pioneer Bookshop starting on May 1. There will be a selection of sizes available based on your height. The full set includes a black gown, mortar board, tassel, and red satin stole. Each component can be purchased separately. Tassels are red and black or rainbow colored.
- Graduation announcements can be purchased online from Balfour.
- Diploma Frames can be purchased from Church Hill Classics.
- Lawn signs can be purchased from Custom Lawn Signs.
- Shop graduation related items at the Pioneer Bookshop.
The Pioneer Bookshop tent will be at Commencement from 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., located between the Forum and Burling Library. Relevant items, based on the weather, will be available to purchase. Examples are: water, sweatshirts, T-shirts, snacks, hats, water bottles, blankets, graduation bears, umbrellas, and stocking caps.
The Pioneer Bookshop extended hours for the weekend are Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, noon-4 p.m..
Introducing GrinnBooks!
GrinnBooks is a College-wide program providing students enrolled at Grinnell access to their required textbooks at the start of each term. Beginning in the 2025–26 academic year, the cost of textbooks will be included in the comprehensive fee.
GrinnBooks at a Glance
Through GrinnBooks, all required textbooks are covered as part of the comprehensive fee. This allows every enrolled student to access required materials on or before the first day of class. Electronic materials will be available through Canvas (Grinnell’s new learning management system) for all a student’s courses. Print materials can be picked up prior to the start of the term from the Pioneer Bookshop. Students should monitor their school email prior to the start of the term for more information on how to access their textbooks.
This campus-wide program seeks to ensure greater educational equity among students and to remove the cost of textbooks as a barrier to taking a class.