$1,792 donation to high school library

Local shoppers raised $1,792 for the Grinnell High School library by making purchases at Grinnell College's Pioneer Bookshop in December 2015, an increase of $86 over the amount raised for the library the previous year.

"It was evident that our December shoppers were happy to see a direct connection to the benefit of shopping locally, knowing that 10 percent of what they spent would help the GHS library," said Cassie Wherry, manager of the Pioneer Bookshop and College Bookstore.  

The Office of Community Enhancement and Engagement supports the donation through its Partners in Education program. The Grinnell High School library receives half of the funds in the form of a check and the other half in a Pioneer Bookshop gift card. 

"Every year the GHS library benefits so much from the Partners in Education donation, and we are so grateful for all of the books it provides for our library," said GHS librarian Chelsey Kolpin. "Students have already been requesting books that will be purchased with this money, so use of the funds will begin right away." 

Kolpin said the donation will help expand the library's collection, including biographies and autobiographies, as well as books featuring projects students can create in the library's makerspace area.

Located in the historic downtown Grinnell at 823 Fourth Ave., the Pioneer Bookshop has books for all ages and interests, featuring children’s books and current best sellers. The staff specializes in recommending books for gifts and can quickly special order books not in stock. The Pioneer Bookshop also carries a special selection of toys as well as local team sportswear, stationery, and cards.