How to identify zero cost to students flexibly-licensed textbooks

Overview

When a prescribed textbook is set, it’s essential that students have reliable access from the first day of study. This guide supports teaching staff in understanding the licensing conditions of e-textbooks available through JCU Library collections. It also highlights the advantages of using open educational resources (OERs) as alternatives to commercial textbooks. Choosing either option ensures students can engage with their subject content without incurring textbook costs, creating a zero-textbook-cost (ZTC) learning experience.

Common e-textbook limitations

Limitations in academic textbook publishing can be frustrating. Common issues include the unavailability of your preferred text in e-textbook format, restrictions on the number of simultaneous users, or e-textbooks being offered only for individual purchase and not for library subscriptions. Connect with Library staff if you have any concerns.

JCU Library subscribed e-textbooks

Where possible, JCU Library subscribes to e-textbook copies of commercial prescribed texts (see JCU Library Prescribed and Recommended Textbook Guidelines). However, they often come with licence restrictions that may limit concurrent users, downloads, copying, printing, or access to supplementary materials. Such limitations can impact student access during high-demand periods, such as before assignment deadlines.

Connect with Library staff early during a curriculum refresh to help identify prescribed e-textbooks that offer favourable access and licensing conditions.

Searching for ebooks and e-textbooks

Search One Search using a book’s title and an author’s surname. Alternatively, search with keywords if you don’t have a specific textbook in mind. Use phrase searching with quotation marks “ ” to stick words together.

If you are interested in a book, click All Online Options (underlined below) to view its catalogue record.

Next, go to the View Now heading. The underlined section provides basic information on user access. Click the provider link (in this example, ProQuest Ebook Central) to go to the book.

This screen displays full details about user access limitations for the book. In this case, only three users can access the title simultaneously, and options to copy, print, or download are unavailable. Such a restricted licence may not be ideal for large classes. The Library may be able to negotiate improved access; if not, you might consider selecting an alternative text with more flexible licensing. Please contact Library staff to explore your options.

Here’s another potential e-textbook. This text allows for unlimited user access. It also offers each user some copying, printing and download functionality (these limits often reset after 24 hours).

Typical use limits

• Full downloads or loans: The Library will generally limit prescribed e-textbooks to not allow full downloads or loans to maximise student access. This means an e-textbook is only available to read online or for chapter download.
• Unlimited: There is no cap on the number of users who can access the text at the same time.
• 1 or 3 user licences: Use is limited to only 1 or 3 users at the same time. These texts are often restricted to read-online access (or chapter downloads) to maximise student access.
• Concurrent or non-linear licences: While there’s no limit on the number of simultaneous users, access is restricted to a set number of uses per year - typically between 200 and 325. Once this limit is reached, access is suspended. However, if the usage cap is reached before the subscription renewal date, the Library may be able to purchase additional access.
• Printing, copying and download limits: Individual titles will offer different functionality limits. It is important to consider whether these limits will suit the needs of your subjects and students.

Open educational resources (OERs)

A growing body of research is finding that OERs are engaging, high-quality and can boost student learning outcomes (Cozart et al., 2020; Tlili et al., 2023). OER publishers, like JCU Open eBooks, have solid editorial and peer review processes to ensure quality. Many OERs are peer-reviewed, and some repositories allow academics to leave public reviews, giving you insight into how others have used and rated the resource. And like commercial textbooks, OERs are authored by academic experts.

OERs offer many benefits for learning and teaching, including:

• Are compliant with principles of universal design for learning (UDL), maximising accessibility for all students
• Are openly licensed so that texts can be adapted to showcase the latest information, local contexts, and/or inclusive exemplars and language
• Can be downloaded in their entirety, allowing students without internet access to use it offline at home.
• Offer unlimited simultaneous usage, copying, printing and download functionality.

OER example

Principles of Strategic Management Accounting

Book features:

• Read it online or download it in different formats
• Peer-review statement
• Accessibility information
• 39,214 words
• Has been adapted for an Australian audience

Learn more about OERs and how to find them from JCU Library’s OER Guide.

Open Education Resources Discovery Collection

Explore our curated collection of open ebooks, selected by JCU Librarians for easy adoption (use) in subjects taught at JCU.

Connect with Library staff if you would like assistance identifying suitable OERs for your subjects.