Guest post by Karen Kohn, Collections Analysis Librarian

For almost ten years, Temple University Libraries has been helping save students money by buying copies of textbooks as ebooks. In the last three years, estimated savings to students from library-licensed etextbooks average $753,000 per year. 

History

Temple University Libraries began purchasing etextbooks in 2017. Initially we only purchased books that had been assigned more than once, and only if we were able to get unlimited user licenses. When the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, we loosened these restrictions out of a desire to provide as much electronic access as possible. In fall 2020 we purchased 148 textbooks, including some that only allowed a single user at a time. While we know the single-user licenses can be frustrating, we only purchase them in cases where a multiuser license is either unavailable or unaffordable. We believe that offering these books is better than the alternative. 

What makes it possible for the Libraries to provide etextbooks is our long-time partnership with the campus bookstore. For many years the staff at Barnes and Noble sent us a list each semester of books that faculty had adopted as course texts. When Follett took ownership of the store in 2024, we appreciated that their staff were willing to continue this partnership. 

Challenges

While we try to provide access to as many textbooks as possible, we are typically only able to offer about a third of the books assigned in any given semester. We provided electronic access to 32.86% of assigned texts in fall 2025 and 31.1% in spring 2026. Quite often there is no ebook available for libraries to buy, as publishers only sell to individuals. In some cases textbooks are bundled with online homework systems, which are not sold to libraries. Other times, the books are prohibitively expensive. This semester, for instance, we declined to purchase a book that would’ve cost over $1000 for a single-user license, which is twenty times what a print copy would cost! 

Ways to Find Your Textbook

A library ebook is only useful if students know that it is available. The Libraries promote our etextbooks in several ways. Our Etextbooks Available Through the Libraries page is updated at the start of each semester. We also email faculty announcing that we have a copy of their textbook as a library ebook and recommend that they link to it in Canvas or their syllabus.  Students can also check the library catalog. 

If We Don’t Have Your Book

While we cannot always provide access to textbooks as ebooks, we always want to help students reduce textbook costs! If a textbook is not available as an ebook, your professor can put a print copy on reserve in the library. This allows students to borrow it for short-term load period so that the class can share. Reserve requests need to be made by a faculty member in Canvas. Instructions for placing a request are on our website. Also, we recommend you tell your professor you are having trouble paying for the homework and see if they have any suggestions. 

Unfortunately, we cannot help with access to online homework systems. For financial assistance with homework systems or books that the Libraries can’t provide, students can apply for the Dr. Theresa Powell Student Emergency Aid Fund through the Dean of Students’ office.