Today saw the 700th participant sign up for the UCL Webinar being held on 15th March 2021, https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/open-access/2021/02/09/event-ebooks-webinar/This remarkable level of interest is illustrative of how difficult the current climate is for libraries. Tickets are free and are still available via the link above. Johanna Anderson, lead campaigner #ebooksos and speaker at the event said, … Continue reading 700 tickets snapped up for UCL #ebooksos webinar – An event you will not want to miss
University of Gloucestershire Formally backs #ebooksos Campaign
Vice Chancellor of University of Gloucestershire, Stephen Marston, today confirmed the University's support for #ebooksos campaign and signed the open letter. This is very welcome news. Support from HE leadership is critical if we are to make any progress. We hope other sector leaders will follow suit.
#EbookSOS Graphics : Please feel free to use these images to raise the profile of the campaign
The images above work well as background banners for social media, email signatures etc This image works well as a Twitter or Instagram avatar etc
#Ebooksos on Tour –
2023 events 15 March - Kingston University: E-resources provision at Kingston University: a panel discussion - Caroline Ball, @heroicendeavour 25 April - Knowledge Rights 21: Open Science & AI: A UK Policy Discussion - Caroline Ball, @heroicendeavour 12 July - CILIP conference: Digital content | The way ahead - Caroline Ball, @heroicendeavour 2022 events 10th … Continue reading #Ebooksos on Tour –
UK Libraries and Archives Copyright Alliance join call for ebook investigation
As our open letter attracts over 3600 signatures, UK Libraries and Archives Copyright Alliance has become the latest organisation to join our call for an investigation into the broken academic ebook market. We very much welcome this support. There may be differing opinions across the sector on what to do about the current crisis but … Continue reading UK Libraries and Archives Copyright Alliance join call for ebook investigation
Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) formally petitions Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate practices of academic ebook publishers
CILIP letter to the Competition and Markets Authority In discussion with the Academic eBook Investigation campaign, CILIP has written to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to petition them formally to investigate the practices of publishers in respect of the pricing, licensing terms and availability of academic ebooks, which prevent librarians in Higher Education from … Continue reading Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) formally petitions Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate practices of academic ebook publishers
New campaign milestone
We are delighted that our open letter has now surpassed 3000 signatures. We are not going away. Thanks to everyone who signed and shared the letter. We will keep pushing for the investigation we so desperately need. Can we make it to 5000?
‘Price gouging from Covid’: student ebooks costing up to 500% more than in print
Written for The Guardian by Anna Fazackerley Our campaign features in today's Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jan/29/price-gouging-from-covid-student-ebooks-costing-up-to-500-more-than-in-print Please do read it. It is a fantastic piece. Anna has done an impressive job in illustrating the complexities of the situation with data and comment from Higher Education staff across the UK, Thank you Anna!
The Move to Open Access as Ebook Crisis Worsens
As we approach the second semester in the academic year, we still await meaningful intervention in the ebook crisis from those in power. Arguably, we are in a far more critical situation than at the start of the pandemic when the severe lock-down began in March 2020. Students now have significantly reduced access to resources … Continue reading The Move to Open Access as Ebook Crisis Worsens
Promoting open access resources in programme (re)validations – Guest Post
by Dr Clare McCluskey Dean, Academic Liaison Librarian A recent revalidation of a course suite, in a subject area for which I am the library liaison, brought to a head the problems in providing online access to programme resources. This is both in terms of access during lockdown, preventing unnecessary handling of print sources and … Continue reading Promoting open access resources in programme (re)validations – Guest Post