MBS Field Marketing Territory Manager Cathy Slane had the honor of presenting a session at the CACS 2021 Course Materials Virtual Summit. In her presentation, How Course Material Distribution Is Changing, she covered how bookstores adapted distribution methods during 2020 and the growing demand for digital course materials. Today, we will take a brief look at how college stores can help improve digital accessibility.
According to research by NACS Student Watch, there has been a significant increase in the use of digital course materials.
- 58% of students reported using more digital
- 72% of digital materials included online homework assignments
- One in three students participated in IA
When looking at paid units, new print textbooks accounted for 35%, used textbooks accounted for 34% and digital accounted for 31% — significantly higher than 2019.
So, with an increased demand for digital materials, how can college stores ensure students have convenient and easy access to their materials? Here are the three key elements to streamline your digital textbook offerings.
3 key elements to streamline digital course materials
- Integrations with digital textbook providers
Creating seamless integrations with digital textbook providers helps college stores bolster sales by enabling eBook sales in-store and online. With these integrations, stores can easily give students access to more options and reap the benefits of an expansive digital inventory. - Convenient access to materials
One digital book publisher will most likely not be able to offer your store every digital book you will need. Instead, you will need multi-publisher inventory from a single source to save your store staff time, increase efficiency and support academic freedom. Also, with thousands of digital book titles available, it is important that students can easily access the materials you provide from one eReader. - Outstanding support
Offering digital course materials also means that students might need a little extra help with figuring out how to access their materials. Provide students with a simple eBook process, clear instructions and dedicated customer support.
By partnering with MBS, stores can easily manage digital course materials while streamlining integrations with the top digital providers and maximizing student convenience and support. The MBS system helps stores maintain digital flexibility.
MBS’ digital content options
VitalSource Direct Integration:
- VitalSource database integrates directly with Arc
- Access to the complete current VitalSource catalog (including multiple rental duration options)
- Your MBS client representative assists with the implementation
- Contains agency priced titles which are books with set prices defined by the publisher
- Includes titles with dynamic pricing, allowing the store to modify prices manually or use a margin
RedShelf:
- RedShelf database integrates directly with Arc
- Access to the complete current RedShelf catalog (including multiple rental duration options)
- Your MBS client representative assists with the implementation
- Contains agency priced titles which are books with set prices defined by the publisher
CEI:
- Campus store list is created by the store on the CEI website and then adoptions are manually added into Arc with the information given by CEI
- Multiple rental durations and price points provided by CEI
- MBS client representative assists with implementation
Please contact your MBS representative to learn more about how MBS can help you improve digital accessibility.
