In the spring of 2014, Indian River State College (IRSC) librarians began an initiative to identify, purchase, and promote unlimited use eBook titles required in ENC courses to supplement the print copies that were frequently purchased by the library and not returned by students.
Librarians selected 100 fictional works that had unlimited usage rights, which were often required readings, and created promotional cards with direct links to the books with login information. Librarians also added other digital resources, such as streaming audiobooks and streaming dramatizations of literature. This three-pronged approach to a work of literature enabled the library to support different learning styles. In the summer of 2015, the IRSC Librarians added eTextbook cards to the mix and are in the pilot stage for their use as a free alternative to a store-bought printed text. The cards, physical eBook “libraries” at each IRSC campus, and promotional signage all significantly increased student’s knowledge of IRSC’s online collections and served as a bridge for students who were seeking out library resources in place of purchasing additional books for class. One promising statistic shows a 515% increase in eBook usage from 2013-2014.
This poster highlights best practices for selecting and promoting eResources for students, and feature in-depth results from several pilot programs that created “Libraries in Your Pocket” that physically connected students with required readings in their credit courses.