Poster presentation at University of Leicester's Discovering Teaching Excellence Conference describing a year long pilot of e-textbook solutions for resourcing large cohort undergraduate law modules

1. Law e-textbook pilot project 2018/19
Library resourcing for large cohort modules
Jackie Hanes, Academic Librarian, Division of Library, Learning and Information Services
The project
The Library ran a year long trial of three new ebook platforms -
Bibliotech, Kortext and Law Trove – in the Contract, EU and
Land Law modules. All options followed a 1 copy per student
purchasing model. The Library also increased print copy numbers
on a fourth control module (Criminal Law). Students and staff
were invited to give feedback throughout the trial.
Jackie Hanes, Academic Librarian, University of Leicester. Email: jh484@le.ac.uk Telephone: 0116 229 7451
The problem
Large cohort modules present challenges for teaching – and
library resourcing. Leicester Law School runs modules with 500+
students. Law students had expressed dissatisfaction with the
Library: the NSS score (Q19) had dropped to 86%, and students
complained of ‘not enough books in the library’. Law textbooks
were only available in print (not available via Ebook Central).
Bibliotech (Contract Law)
Unlimited access
Integrated with Library Search
Mobile app to download ebook
Usage = 4,082 ebook logins
eBook platform = 3.83 / 5.00
Library resources = 94%
With thanks to Dr Nicola Jackson
Kortext (EU Law)
Restricted access
Not integrated with Library Search
Mobile app to download ebook
Usage = 3,165 ebook logins
eBook platform = 3.84 / 5.00
Library resources = 85%
With thanks to Prof Adam Cygan
Law Trove (Land Law)
Unlimited access
Integrated with Library Search
No mobile app (online only)
Usage = 6,392 ebook views
eBook platform = 3.86 / 5.00
Library resources = 74%
With thanks to Mr Martin George
Findings Print AND eBook (not Print OR eBook)
Students may prefer print books, but the control module (Criminal Law – print only) scored the lowest for student satisfaction with library
resources (62%), so eBooks clearly meet an important library resourcing need. Students want both: print books at home, and ebooks
on campus. Of those on trial, Bibliotech offers the best package: unlimited access, integrated with Library Search, and with a mobile app.
Student engagement and feedback
Students were excited to hear of the project, and appreciative of the focus on their needs, and increase in library resources. The project
received very positive feedback at Student Staff Committee meetings. Students were surveyed on their experiences at the end of the first
semester, and invited to give feedback on the individual ebook platforms, their experience of using ebooks, and the ‘print v ebook’ debate.
Students expressed a strong preference for print books – law is a reading heavy discipline, and students disliked reading on-screen.
However, students (especially international and commuter students) liked being able to access their textbooks at any time on a mobile app.
Students had no favourite ebook platform – all three were rated equally (3.8 / 5.0) – they liked (but did not love) ebooks.
Students’ negative comments about ebooks Students’ positive comments about ebooks