TEXTBOOK AFFORDABILITY:IS THERE A ROLE FOR THE LIBRARY?

Charles Lyons (cflyons@buffalo.edu)Dean Hendrix(dhendrix@buffalo.edu)NASIG Annual ConferenceJune 8, 2013

Image: Anne Holly, author, Textbook Romance

Textbooks Simply Cost Too Much

Source: UB Libraries Digital Collections

Today it’s 20%

Libraries and

Textbooks: It’s Always

Been a Rocky

Relationship

Source: Proquest Historical Newspapers

The Classic Textbook Role for Libraries

Source: SUNY Geneseo Milne Library

The Emergence of e-Textbooks: Time for Libraries to Re-Think Roles

Source: OnlineEducation.net

1. Traditional Publishers• Negotiating with traditional publishers for lower

prices (often by buying in bulk).

2. Open Textbooks• Creating alternatives to compete with

traditional textbooks… free ones!

3. Information Disclosure• Informing instructors, students, and

administrators about options for saving money

3 Approaches to Affordability

PILOTS AT UBe-Textbooks: Roles for Libraries

Deploying e-Textbook Pilots at UB to Explore These Key Questions

Status• What are the features of today’s e-

textbooks?

Preference • Do students like/want e-textbooks?

Affordability • Can e-textbooks lower prices?

Biz Models • What are sustainable business models?

Outcomes• Can e-textbooks improve learning

outcomes?

Library Roles • Where does the library fit?

• Students in participating classes given free access to the electronic version of the required textbook

1. Course Based

• A group of students given free access to up to any 12 e-textbooks they choose

2. Student Based

• Course based pilot but using courses across three SUNY campuses

3. Multi-Campus

• Traditional library model: IP authenticated, campus wide access to an e-textbook

4. Site License

4 Distinct e-Textbook Pilots

• 850 students, 5 courses, Courseload platform, McGraw Hill as Publisher, Fall 2012

1. Course Based

• 300 Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) students CourseSmart platform, Spring 2013

2. Student Based

• 443 students, 6 courses, 3 SUNY’s, 6 publishers, CourseSmart, Spring 2013

3. Multi-Campus

• Nature’s Principles of Biology, campus wide access to limited version, FY 2012-13

4. Site License

4 Distinct e-Textbook Pilots (more)

• Learning Management System: use the LMS to manage access is an emerging best practice

• Identity / Privacy: managing student data securely is very important!

Identity Management

e-Textbook Pilots: Other Lessons Learned

• Support: providing help/support during pilots was NOT as heavy as expected

• Accessibility: most vendors are behind

• Faculty education is needed

• Length of access: need more options

CURRENT STATUS OF E-TEXTBOOKS

e-Textbooks: Roles for Libraries

Offline: Read without

Internet connection

Analytics: big

brother is watching!

Social features: sharing

notes & hi-lites

STUDENT PREFERENCEe-Textbooks: Roles for Libraries

e-Textbooks: Student Likes and Dislikes Based on Our Survey Data

Cheaper

More portable

Environmentally friendly

Searching

Screen reading

Online distractions

Flipping around

Internet connection

Like

sD

islikes

30%

30%

40%

Maybe No

Yes

Rapidly shifting attitudesQ: Do you plan to purchase an e-textbook in the future?

0.14

0.43

0.42

NoMaybe

Yes

Fall 2012 Spring 2013

• High laptop access• Low tablet and smartphone access• Student based pilot averaged five books

per student • A small number of students accounted for

majority of features use

Usage (Fall 12 & Spring 13)

AFFORDABILITYe-Textbooks: Roles for Libraries

e-Journals Didn’t Lower Prices, Why Can e-Textbooks?

• Used Market: publishers are motivated because they are losing money on print

• Frustration: textbook consumers are fired up• Journals are tied to promotion and tenure;

textbooks not so much• Open textbooks provide competition• We’ve learned something from the transitions

with e-journals and e-books• Bulk purchasing: publishers will lower prices if

they can increase sales volume

Reasons Why They Cost Too Much…Inelastic 1 and Mediated2 Market

Publishers StudentsProfessors

2Mediated: the book chooser is not the book buyer

1Inelastic: price does not affect demand (not yet)

SharingUsed

Go Without

Pirate Library

How Students Respond to High Prices

Bundling with Supplementals

New Editions “Custom” Textbooks

How Publishers Respond to Students Not Buying New Textbooks

•87% avg savings off new list•$23 per student per e-textbook

1. Course Based

•$42 per student per e-textbook2. Student

Based

•61% avg savings off new list•$47 per student per e-textbook3. Multi-Campus

•Inconclusive4. Site License

Publisher Want to Respond with e-Textbooks (and at lower prices)

LEARNING OUTCOMESe-Textbooks: Roles for Libraries

Longitudinal increases in:• Study efficiency• Organization• Engagement• Flexibility

No reported differences in:• Reading more

Student Learning Trends

Students report:• 1/3 e-textbook • 1/3 makes no difference• 1/3 print textbook

Q: Do e-textbooks or print textbooks provide a better learning experience?

BUSINESS MODELSe-Textbooks: Roles for Libraries

Partnership with the University Bookstore(?)

Content Aggregators• CourseLoad, CourseSmart, Vital Source, CafeScribe, Kno

Individual Publishers• Cengage Brain, McGraw-Hill Connect, Pearson MyLabs,

Wiley Plus

Academic collaborations • Internet2/EDUCAUSE• SUNY / New York State• Anyone in the audience?

Content Acquisition Models: Collaboration is Key

• SUNY as an Individual License Negotiator• Course Based Fee• Universal e-Textbook Fee• Pay per view• e-Textbooks as Financial Aid• Open Learning Resources

Looking Forward:Sustainable Business Models

• e-Reserves and other library models• Performance based pricing• Edition based pricing• Tiered pricing• Move away from pricing based on discount

off list print price• Big deals, bundles• Site licenses

More Experimental Business Models

LIBRARY ROLESe-Textbooks: Roles for Libraries

Why the Library?

• Libraries have managed transitions from print to electronic before

• Libraries know academic publishing and licensing• Libraries already manage access to non-textbook e-books• Tomorrow’s e-textbooks will resemble today’s library

databases• This is an opportunity for library to (further) integrate in

to the curriculum• Libraries are well positioned on campus as coordinators

and facilitators

Libraries

Vendors:PublishersPlatforms

Teaching & Learning:InstructorsStudents

University Admin:Legal

AccessibilityBusiness Officers

Technology:

Learning Mgt System

IT

Bookstores:

UniversityLocalOnline

Don’t Forget About…

e-Textbooks are Coming…Are Libraries Ready?

• Students will soon arrive at college expecting e-textbooks• Graduates will be expected to be e-literate• Publishers are motivated to get out of print• e-Textbooks are currently only at 10% of the market• We are early in the evolution of e-textbooks• Increasing ubiquity of e-Readers, tablets, smartphones• Rise of online learning and MOOC’s

THANKS! QUESTIONS?e-Textbooks: Roles for Libraries

Charles Lyons (cflyons@buffalo.edu)Dean Hendrix(dhendrix@buffalo.edu)NASIG: June 8, 2013