Supporting Student Success: E-books as Course Materials

Abstract

Libraries have traditionally avoided purchasing textbooks due to factors like a limited collection development budget and the frequency of new textbook editions. However, as the price of textbooks continues to rise, some libraries have reconsidered such policies and initiated programs to help students combat the escalating cost of higher education. Louisiana State University (LSU) is the state flagship with an enrollment of over 30,000 students. Since the fall semester of 2014, LSU Libraries has been providing and promoting access to e-textbooks using the licensed collection. This is done by identifying and purchasing e-books that are used as course materials, then making these available to students through the Libraries’ website and the university’s learning management system. This article addresses the approach undertaken to use licensed e-books for course use, highlights promotional strategies, and provides an overview of the assessments utilized to improve the program. These strategies can be applied by other libraries to initiate similar programs.