Contact: Cindy Deppe, media relations, 641-269-4834

April 15, 2008

GRINNELL COLLEGE PIONEER BOOKSHOP CELEBRATES WITH BOOK-SIGNING

GRINNELL, IA -The Grinnell College Pioneer Bookshop, located at 823 4th Ave. in downtown Grinnell, will celebrate its first year in business, Apr. 21-24. The Bookshop opened in 2007 in an outreach effort by Grinnell College to offer campus bookstore services to the greater Grinnell community.

"We’ve been very pleased with the first year of business and the support from our customers," said Cassie Wherry, manager, Campus Bookstore. Harley McIlrath, assistant manager, adds that, based on community input, the Bookshop is planning "more activities such as author appearances to give the store a sense of place in the community."

The Bookshop will celebrate its anniversary with a book signing by David Zeiss, local photographer and 20-year college employee. Zeiss will sign his self-published book of regional photography, "Grinnell: Jewel of the Prairie," on Thurs., Apr. 24, from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Zeiss says the book, which includes 98 photographic scenes of Grinnell and the surrounding area, also provides a bit of local history. "I’ve been interested in history and photography since I was very young," Zeiss said. "The goal of the book is to inspire others’ interest in local history and to provide images that offer new perspectives of the community."

The Pioneer Bookshop specializes in book titles and gifts central to Iowa, Midwest and Prairie themes, along with framed prints by Iowa artists, children's books, educational toys and Grinnell College and Grinnell apparel. For store hours and information, go to http://www.grinnell.edu/offices/Bookstore/.

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