Requesting Resources for Teaching

Orders should be placed well in advance of the beginning of each semester to ensure timely availability for students.

The simple answer to this is that unfortunately publishers don’t always sell Ebooks to libraries.  Sometimes eBooks are sold on an annual subscription or as part of a wider eBook collection where the cost of these subscriptions can exceed budget availability. Etextbooks are often only available for student purchase and not for sale to libraries.  Libraries can sometimes get older editions of titles in eBook format but not always the most recent edition.

There were many key textbooks requested in recent months where only print copies could be sourced. Some of these texts are available online via third-party contractors offering access to a specific cohort of students on an annual subscription basis. The cost of each title may depend on the
number of students requiring access. So for example, a text book could cost €60 and be required by 150 students in semester one. The annual cost is typically worked out by multiplying the cost by the
number of students so for a €60 title the cost would be €9,000 per year. Even if the class size was smaller, say 20 it would cost €1,200 per year. This type of model is however simply not sustainable or affordable for many libraries at this time.

Publishers always assign licenses to the purchase of eBooks and can offer a variety of models, ranging from single user license to unlimited campus wide access. We always try to source licenses offering unlimited institutional access i.e. with no restriction on the number of students who can access it at the same time. Sometimes however, titles may only be available with a single user or three user licence. That means the maximum number of students who can access it at the same time is one or three. We have (where affordable and at a similar cost to a print copy) purchased a number of copies of eBooks where the licence was too restrictive

Yes, you can track your order(s) via the Library Catalogue. To do this, enter the title in the search box and check its status e.g.  on order/received/available.

Orders can be placed via our online order form for materials such DVDs or educational resources (in the case of staff in DCU Institute of Education).

You can request scanned copies of book chapters or journal articles.

Yes, under copyright legislation you cannot exceed 10% of a book or one chapter (whichever is greater) or one article from a particular journal issue, per module, per academic year.

Some publishers have extended permissions up to 20% due to Covid 19. This extension is in place up to July, 2021.

Should an exception to the above be sought, the Library can approach the publisher to request an exception. 

Exceptions:

Second Extract Permissions Service (SEPS) - this service allows for the “purchase” of permission to copy and use an additional amount – a ‘second extract’ – e.g. another chapter from the book or another 10%.

To make a request, complete the relevant online form:

       Digital Scan - Book Chapter Request Form

       Digital Scan - Journal Article Request Form

The request will be forwarded to your Subject Librarian.
You will need to include the following information:

• Module name and code
• Number of students taking the module
• Start and end date of the module
• Full bibliographic details for the book chapter or journal article

Please submit your request at least one week in advance of it being required.  We will endeavour to fulfil requests as soon as possible but this will be subject to demand.