The GrinnBooks Program is a new College-wide service starting in the 2025-26 academic year that intends to provide all students their required textbooks for their courses. Under GrinnBooks, the cost of these textbooks would be included as part of a student’s tuition fee.
Brad Lindberg, associate vice president of institutional initiatives and enrollment and a member of the GrinnBooks project team, wrote to The S&B that textbook affordability and access have been a consistently relevant source of discussion and research for the Academic Affairs Office.
“We know from working closely with students and from feedback from faculty, that many times students are forced to wait to get their textbooks until their first paycheck from an on-campus job at Grinnell, or sometimes never purchase their textbooks at all,” Lindberg wrote.
Lindberg noted that there would not necessarily be an identifiable increase in tuition fees due to GrinnBooks and that the program costs would still be considered under a student’s financial aid if they receive aid.
“There are many considerations associated with setting the cost of tuition. Textbooks will now be one of many variables considered,” he wrote.
One of the key features of the GrinnBooks program, Lindberg wrote, is giving professors autonomy over what medium they want students to read the texts in, with both options, physical or digital, covered by GrinnBooks.
As Lindberg wrote, “Print materials can be picked up from the Pioneer Bookshop at no additional charge, starting on move-in day.” Students will be able to keep physical texts after the course ends, while most digital materials will expire at the end of the course.
Students will automatically be enrolled in the program and will be able to opt out by the end of the add-drop period two weeks into the beginning of the semester. “In early August, the bookstore will send all students intending to return to Grinnell for the fall an email re-introducing GrinnBooks,” Lindberg wrote. “That message will also provide information on how to opt out of the program. Students who choose to opt out of the program for the semester will receive a $200 credit on their student account at the end of the opt-out period.”
The potential impact of textbook costs on low-income students has been a consideration behind the GrinnBooks program. “If it doesn’t affect the cost of my tuition, I don’t see why I would opt out of GrinnBooks,” said Kelly Olson `27, a first-generation low-income student. “But if it affects tuition costs in a noticeable way, then I would avoid it.”
Yanellie Ireland `27, another first-generation low-income student, sources most of her textbook material by either downloading them online or through the Low-Income Lending Library run by the Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Social Justice. “I think the library’s really beneficial for low-income students, especially in science fields as the books are pretty expensive,” Ireland said. “But I do think they don’t really have a lot of the updated versions of books. I would use GrinnBooks for next semester if there isn’t an additional fee.”
Lindberg noted that the team behind GrinnBooks are working with the Low-Income Lending Library to ensure that their efforts are coordinated. “While there are many details remaining to discuss, we know that the Low-Income Library will be available to students, most likely focusing their attention on recommended textbooks and other materials that are not included as part of the GrinnBooks program,” he wrote.
charge, starting on move-in day.” Students will be able to keep physical texts after the course ends, while most digital materials will expire at the end of the course.
Students will automatically be enrolled in the program and will be able to opt out by the end of the add-drop period two weeks into the beginning of the semester.
“In early August, the bookstore will send all students intending to return to Grinnell for the fall an email reintroducing GrinnBooks,” Lindberg wrote. “That message will also provide information on how to opt out of the program. Students who choose to opt out of the program for the semester will receive a $200 credit on their student account at the end of the opt-out period.”
The potential impact of textbook costs on low-income students has been a consideration behind the GrinnBooks program.
“If it doesn’t affect the cost of my tuition, I don’t see why I would opt out of GrinnBooks,” said Kelly Olson `27, a first-generation, low-income student. “But if it affects tuition costs in a noticeable way, then I would avoid it.”
Yanellie Ireland `27, another first-generation, low-income student, sources most of her textbook materials by either downloading them online or through the Low-Income Lending Library run by the Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Social Justice.
“I think the library’s really beneficial for low-income students, especially in science fields as the books are pretty expensive,” Ireland said. “But I do think they don’t really have a lot of the updated versions of books. I would use GrinnBooks for next semester if there isn’t an additional fee.”
Lindberg noted that the team behind GrinnBooks are working with the Low-Income Lending Library to ensure that their efforts are coordinated.
“While there are many details remaining to discuss, we know that the Low-Income Library will be available to students, most likely focusing their attention on recommended textbooks and other materials that are not included as part of the GrinnBooks program,” he wrote.
