With the recent release of the Trixie version of Raspberry Pi OS, one of the most notable updates is the revamped Bookshelf application — designed to offer contributors access to exclusive, subscriber-only titles. Here’s a closer look at what’s changed and why it matters.
From Free PDFs to Global Distribution
In the past, Raspberry Pi made all of its educational books available as free PDFs on the day they were released. However, in 2023, the distribution strategy evolved to bring these books to more readers worldwide through major e-book and print channels like Amazon Kindle, Google Play Books, and Apple Books.
Previously, printed titles were often hard to find outside the UK and Ireland, and third-party resellers frequently marked up prices. Expanding to official global platforms allowed the Raspberry Pi Foundation to make its learning materials more accessible and fairly priced.
Introducing Contributor Access
With the new Bookshelf in Raspberry Pi OS: Trixie, the Foundation introduced a contributor system.
Here’s how it works:
- Anyone contributing £5 / €5 / $5 per month can now download both PDF and ePUB versions of Raspberry Pi Press books — ideal for e-readers and tablets.
- Contributors also gain early access to the Raspberry Pi Official Magazine PDFs — three weeks before they’re released to the public.
- Existing magazine contributors at £3 / €3 / $3 per month automatically get access to book downloads as well.
This new approach supports the ongoing creation of free educational content, while giving back to those who help fund it.
Bookshelf: Free and Contributor-Only Titles
The revamped Bookshelf now includes both free titles (accessible to all users) and contributor-only titles (exclusive to supporters).
Here’s what’s new:
- Free titles are marked with a cloud icon — simply double-click to download and read.
- Contributor-only titles show a padlock icon — available only to logged-in contributors.
To unlock these exclusive titles:
- Click the “Contribute…” button in Bookshelf.
- Set up a Raspberry Pi ID (or sign in with your existing one if you use Raspberry Pi Connect).
- Link your contribution to your ID.
- Log in to Bookshelf — and the padlocks disappear!
Once signed in, the Bookshelf recognizes you as a contributor and grants access to all eligible titles.
Keeping Your Books Forever
Even if you stop contributing, you’ll still keep access to any titles you’ve already downloaded.
These files are stored locally in your Bookshelf folder, allowing you to open them anytime — just remember to back them up, as you’ll need a new contribution to re-download them later.
If you switch to a new Raspberry Pi or flash a fresh OS image, simply log back in with your Raspberry Pi ID to re-sync your contributor access.
DRM-Free and Accessible Learning
The Raspberry Pi Foundation is also committed to keeping its learning materials DRM-free and accessible.
Over time, all titles will eventually become free to download via Bookshelf, following the same model as The MagPi — where the newest issue is contributor-only for the first month, and then free for everyone thereafter.
This ensures that the community continues to enjoy open access to knowledge while maintaining a sustainable support model for future publications.
The revamped Bookshelf in Raspberry Pi OS: Trixie is more than a cosmetic update — it’s a thoughtful evolution that strengthens the connection between the Raspberry Pi Foundation and its global community.
By rewarding contributors with early and extended access to quality learning materials, Raspberry Pi continues its mission to make computing education open, fair, and community-driven.
Explore Bookshelf today — update to the latest Raspberry Pi OS: Trixie and discover a growing library of free and contributor-exclusive titles.
