Q. What is an eTextbook?

An eTextbook is a book which the publisher either does not make available digitally as a standard eBook or only offers restricted access to it.

To provide access to a book which students must read to understand module content, has an importance status of KEY and which is referred to multiple times throughout a module, negotiations are undertaken with publishers, often through an intermediary, to provide access to the text as an eTextbook for a specific cohort on an annual subscription basis.  Making content available in this way is expensive and will be limited to areas/texts of high demand. 

Typically, titles that are out of print or published over 20 years ago, are unlikely to be made available as an eTextbook.  When negotiating, we will always seek the new edition of a title and, for accessibility purposes, would prioritise EPUB over PDF.