Simply follow these steps to participate in Kraken Ready

1.Register for classes
Upon registering each semester or term, you are automatically enrolled in Kraken Ready, and your student account is billed $25 per credit hour.

2. Wait 24 hours for the system to update and reflect your registration

3. View Kraken Ready Materials
– Use the Kraken Ready Bookshelf banner on the campus store website to view the materials provided by Kraken Ready for your classes.
– If you choose to opt out of the program and purchase course materials on your own, you must do so within a specified window each semester or term. Your opt-out decision covers all courses for that semester or term.

4. Get your books
An email notification will be sent if you have a physical item to pick up. Digital materials will automatically be delivered within Canvas unless a printed access code is needed.

Students can opt out of the program and purchase books independently if they wish during the opt-out window, and anyone who has opted out can opt back in during that same time frame. The opt-out window for the Fall 2026 semester opens July 2, and the closing date is determined by your course schedule and shown in your Kraken Ready Bookshelf.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kraken Ready?

Kraken Ready is a program designed to ensure students have access to all their required printed textbooks and digital course materials by the first day of class. Students are charged a $54-per-credit-hour fee for the program, which is added to their tuition bill.

Required printed textbooks are provided to students, and required digital course materials are delivered directly through Canvas.

At the end of the semester or term, students can keep any printed materials received through the program unless it has a label stating that it's a rental copy and needs to returned to the Kraken Campus Store.

Is anything not included?

Recommended, Optional or Suggested textbooks, all uniforms, equipment, and course kits or other items that cannot be returned and reused are not included in Kraken Ready and are the responsibility of the student if he or she wishes to purchase them.

How do I enroll?

All students in degree programs are automatically enrolled in Kraken Ready when they register for classes.

Non-degree and Career & College Readiness students are not eligible for Kraken Ready. Courses with the following prefixes are not included in Kraken Ready fee calculation, HOR, NUR, LET, WBL and COS.

What if I don't want to participate?

Students are able to opt out of the program each semester or term if they choose not to participate, as long as the opt-out occurs during the specified window for that semester or term.

Any student who has previously opted out can opt back into the program, as long as that occurs on or before the last day of that same window.

The opt-out window for the Fall 2026 semester opens July 2, and the closing date is determined by your course schedule and the date shown on your Kraken Ready Bookshelf.

How do I know if I need to opt out?

There may be a situation where the Textbook Access Fee for Kraken Ready exceeds the retail amount for your books or does not benefit you in a given semester.

For example, maybe one or more of your courses is utilizing no-cost materials or no materials at all. In this case, it might be a good idea to opt out for that semester.

We encourage you to visit the Kraken Campus Store Website to search for and review the costs of your required materials as compared to the fee that you are charged before making your opt-out decision. Remember to do your research every semester and term!

The opt-out window for the Fall 2026 semester opens July 2, and the closing date is determined by your course schedule and the date shown on your Kraken Ready Bookshelf.

What does it mean to view materials provided?

We recommend that you view what items are being provided in the program so you know if there are any printed items that will need to be picked up from Kraken Campus Store.

Also, this will let you know if there are any courses that have no text required so you can make an informed opt-out decision

What if I drop or add a class?

If you have already received your printed materials and you drop a class, you must return any books for that course to the Kraken Campus Store within 48 hours.

If you drop a class and add a different class digital materials for the added class will automatically be available in Canvas.

Do I need to return my textbooks to the bookstore?

Printed materials provided as part of the Kraken Ready program are yours to keep unless one of the following occurs:

The book has a label stating the copy you have received is a rental copy and needs to returned to the Kraken Campus Store.
You drop a class before the last day to drop with a 75% refund. The books need to be returned to the Kraken Campus Store with 48 hours.
You withdraw from a class. You are still responsible for the Kraken Ready fees and, therefore, can keep any books associated with that class, unless the book has a label on it stating that it's a rental copy and needs to returned to the Kraken Campus Store.

If I missed the opt-out deadline, can I still get a refund?

No. This program involves the coordination of various publishers and distribution networks, so Carteret Community College must follow the policies that have been agreed to by all parties.

Contact the Kraken Campus Store if you have any questions.

How does this affect CCP and Early College students?

Students in the Career & College Promise program are automatically enrolled in Kraken Ready and those fees must be paid in the business office. Students may also choose to opt-out of the program.