Ebook SOS: Staff and student reflections on the impact of Covid-19 and the future of accessible and sustainable online resources

In the 2019-20 and 2020-2021 academic years, Covid 19 and the shift to remote learning shone a global spotlight on the availability of online reading resources for students in Higher Education. For several years, considerations around accessibility and flexibility had driven a steady, pre-pandemic trend towards the adoption of electronic-first purchasing policies. However, with the sudden closure of library buildings in March 2020, university library teams faced the prospect of providing entire collections online, a task which presented new challenges but also amplified existing concerns around access to and engagement with online texts.

The move away from physical collections is not always simple. Students often express a preference for physical books over online resources and gaps in digital confidence can leave some learners feeling isolated or disengaged from their reading. Libraries also face very real challenges in providing comprehensive online collections, showcased by the increasingly high-profile #EbookSOS and E-book Emergency campaigns, established by Librarians and students to highlight failings in the ebook market and demand a review of exploitative online publishing practices.

This session explores student-led research which interrogates students’ experiences, perceptions and preconceptions of online resources. It also examines the current and future landscapes of eresource access in Higher Education. You will hear about the barriers preventing student access to and engagement with quality online resources, the advocacy and collaborative action challenging the status quo, and the potential for student engagement, co-creation and partnership to determine the future of accessible and sustainable publishing and collection design.