About the session
Lightning Talks Session 2 Lightning talks will take place in the Ludlow Suite. Presenters will give a brief overview of a topic and delegates will have an opportunity to find out more in smaller informal follow-up groups/poster sessions in the Exhibit Hall.
This talk will explain why and how the University of Salford Library has offered electronic textbooks on a one-to-one model to students on selected modules since 2017/18. This talk will explore the rationale for supplier selection, how the texts were selected and for which modules as well as the practical challenges faced in providing this access. A particular focus will be on feedback gathered from students, including users and non-users, and from tutors. Attempts to determine the impact of providing access to these electronic textbooks, and initial analysis will be presented which will show: which types of module and book have seen the best engagement and usage; the importance of liaison with academic staff; how timing of communications impacts usage; and key messages for advocacy when negotiating funding models. Thoughts on how the findings from this project can influence the direction of non-traditional models of access, including access for nontraditional groups of students, will be shared. The project to provide textbooks to students in this way has not been without challenges, and this talk demonstrate how these challenges have been embraced and how the University of Salford’s experience may help other institutions considering implementing this model.
