Case Study: Enhancing Academic Library Resources with Kogan Page Complete

Challenge: Addressing Limited Access to Academic Textbooks and Resources

Sean Hamilton, Senior Collections Librarian at the University of the West of Scotland, manages resources across five different campuses, providing content for students both onsite and offsite. With business courses largely focused on vocational subjects like marketing, human resources and logistics, the need for accessible, high-quality resources is increasingly important.

However, sourcing suitable e-textbooks, particularly business textbooks, has proved challenging, Sean explains. Feedback from faculty showed that Kogan Page titles are ideal for teaching at the University of the West of Scotland because of the practical nature of their content, but access models were an issue; digital aggregators frequently offered licenses with restrictive terms, such as one- or three-user access, which limited the availability of essential resources. Faculty feedback highlighted the need for accessible texts well-suited for undergraduate teaching, but the options were limited.

Solution: Subscribing to Kogan Page Complete

To address these challenges, the University subscribed to Kogan Page Complete, gaining access to all Kogan Page professional books and textbooks on the new KoganPage+ platform.

Kogan Page worked with the university to provide flexible licensing options, enabling unlimited user access to all titles. The University were impressed with the suitability of the texts: "The initial selection of Kogan Page was based on feedback from lecturers who found the texts to be a good fit for undergraduate teaching. They were accessible in a way that some other publishers’ texts weren’t" Sean explains.

Outcome: Improved Access and Enhanced Learning Experience

The implementation of Kogan Page Complete has delivered transformative benefits for the University of the West of Scotland:

1. Improved Accessibility: "The Kogan Page subscription has been very useful for us. The flexible licensing options ensure students—whether      on-campus or remote—can access resources easily and securely," Sean noted.
2. High-Quality Content: Faculty have praised the texts for their relevance, scope and accessibility, with Sean highlighting that "the texts are a      good fit for undergraduate teaching, especially compared to others on the market."
3. Streamlined Resource Management: The collaborative approach with Kogan Page has allowed the library to quickly address resource gaps and find all key business content available in one place, on one platform.
4. Enhanced User Experience: "Having visually appealing covers and consistent branding helps engage students and adds to their      experience," Sean said. New titles are released automatically at no extra cost, with access to previous editions available upon request.

Sean also reflected on the new platform’s impact: "The new platform has been a really positive development for us. Staff and students really appreciate it."

Looking Ahead

With the Kogan Page Complete collection now integrated, the library plans to adopt a more proactive approach to curating reading lists. "We’d like to incorporate a proactive element by saying, ‘You’ve selected this text, but have you considered similar texts available through Kogan Page Complete?’" Sean shared.

By leveraging the extensive catalogue and enhanced accessibility provided by Kogan Page Complete, the University of the West of Scotland continues to create a robust and inclusive learning environment that meets the diverse needs of its students and faculty.

To learn more about KoganPage+ and the collections available to academic libraries click here.