Textbook Affordability

1. Check MavScholar to see if the library owns an eBook. 
    
2. If the library owns the eBook, please consider taking the following next steps:
   1. Fill out a Course Reserve Form so that the materials can be added to our Course Reserve page. 
   2. Include the Permalink from MavScholar in your Syllabus or in D2L.  DO NOT download the whole eBook or chapters from the eBook and share them as a PDF with your students.  Learn WHY this is problematic.
   3. Complete a MinnState Fair Use Checklist for each library resource used for course materials and retain a copy (either physical or electronic) for three years after the last semester the resource was used.  For example, if a resource was last used in Spring 2021, it is advisable to retain a completed copy of the MinnState Fair Use Checklist until Spring 2024. Completing the checklist will provide evidence that a faculty member has done their due diligence to examining fair use in the classroom.  
   4. Consider sending an email to the students prior to the beginning of class to let them know about the eBook and also post a D2L announcement with the information on how to access the eBook..  
   5. Submit your adoption to the Maverick Shop Bookstore by sending an email to either Kris Brockman (kristine.brockman@mnsu.edu) or Lisa Roberts (lisa.roberts@mnsu.edu) with the information about the eBook and that it is available through the library.  
       
3. If the library does not own the eBook, please consider taking the following next steps:
   1. Contact a subject specific librarian to see if the library can obtain the material as an eBook.  NOTE: Because it can take weeks to complete the purchasing process, it is very important to contact a subject specific librarian well in advance of the start of the semester.  
   2. Fill out a Course Reserve Form so that the materials can be added to our Course Reserve page. 
   3. When the eBook has been received and processed by the library, remember to include the Permalink from MavScholar in your Syllabus or in D2L.  DO NOT download the whole eBook or chapters from the eBook and share the PDF with your students.  Learn WHY this is problematic. 
   4. Complete a MinnState Fair Use Checklist for each library resource used for course materials and retain a copy (either physical or electronic) for three years after the last semester the resource was used.  For example, if a resource was last used in Spring 2021, it is advisable to retain a completed copy of the MinnState Fair Use Checklist until Spring 2024. Completing the checklist will provide evidence that a faculty member has done their due diligence to examining fair use in the classroom.  
   5. Consider sending an email to the students prior to the beginning of class to let them know about the eBook and also post a D2L announcement with the information on how to access the eBook..  
   6. Submit your adoption to the Maverick Shop Bookstore by sending an email to either Kris Brockman (kristine.brockman@mnsu.edu) or Lisa Roberts (lisa.roberts@mnsu.edu) with the information about the eBook and that it is available through the library.   
       
4. Information on the various eBook platforms and accessibility can be found in our Ebooks Accessibility Library Guide.  

There are several reasons why the library may not be able to purchase an eBook or may only be able to purchase an eBook in a limited fashion.  While the library strives to assist in multiple ways, some times the library may just not be able to fulfill a request.  Some of these reasons include:

1. Simultaneous Access - some eBooks will restrict the number of users who can simultaneously view an eBook.  Some companies restrict access to 1 user at a time, while others may offer unlimited access.  The library strives to purchase Unlimited Access wherever possible.  Unlimited Access means that there are no limits to the number of people who can access the eBook simultaneously.  Sometimes, however, the library can only purchase an eBook with a license that restricts the number of simultaneous users to 1 or 3.  Talk to a subject specific librarian if there are concerns about limits to simultaneous access.  Remember that sometimes unlimited access is just not available for the library to purchase.  
    
2. Cost - Sometimes, eBooks can be more expensive to purchase than print books.  The library has a limited budget and strives to be good stewards of resources.  So there may be times when the cost of an eBook is deemed to be too excessive.  In those cases, the library's only option may be to purchase a print copy.  Moreover, the library cannot purchase a copy of every textbook or course materials for every course at the University.  Such costs are unsustainable and reckless.  
    
3. Publisher/Licensing Restrictions - Some publishers will not allow the library to purchase e-text (or e-access) versions of textbooks or other course materials.  Moreover, licensing restrictions by publishers do not allow the library to purchase a e-text version and offer them to multiple students.  Such e-text versions are sold only to individual students.  These same restrictions also apply to ancillary materials or homework/study aids that sometimes accompany textbooks.  The library cannot purchase these materials.  Finally, sometimes there are no existing licenses with a publisher or vendor and establishing a license can take months or in some cases include licenses that are so prohibitive that the library cannot agree to them.