121 - The Textbook Dilemma: Should Health Sciences Libraries Purchase Course-Required Textbooks? A Scoping Review

Objectives: This scoping review seeks to answer the question, “Should health sciences libraries collect or not collect course-required textbooks?” Textbook costs have escalated for students and the library. The objective of this scoping review is to assist libraries in developing a collection policy for course-required textbooks informed by themes and outcomes recognized in the existing body of research.

Methods: The scoping review was conducted using Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. The team did an environmental scan, constructed a comprehensive search strategy in six databases, and conducted hand and cited-reference searching. Search results were imported into EndNote 20, and screened for inclusion using Rayyan. Article selection followed a dual peer-review process with a third-person tiebreaker, and was guided by pre-specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included papers were quantitative or qualitative studies with outcomes described, and mapped to prevailing themes. They were required to specifically address the library purchase of textbooks in higher education.

Results: 806 records were identified via database and hand searching. After deduplication, 761 records were screened and 702 records were excluded. 59 full-text records were retrieved and after review, 16 records were further excluded. 43 studies were included for review, and 74% of included studies were case studies. 13 recurring themes were identified and grouped. Included themes were format, acquisition strategies, budget, interlibrary loan, the campus bookstore, outreach, access behavior, course reserves, usage, sustainability, student affordability, student success, and student satisfaction.

Conclusions: Libraries are increasingly enlisted in wider academic strategies to make education more affordable for students. Course reserves programs are often initiated or expanded at the request of student groups, sometimes also motivating financial support from administration. Higher-level evidence specific to actual cost savings and other student outcomes is needed. Published studies have focused primarily on undergraduate settings and no study was specific to medical education. However, key takeaways can be extrapolated to medical schools: To maximize student savings, textbook collection may not be comprehensive, but is most effective when tailored to cohort size and expressed student desire via survey, interlibrary loan request, usage, or cost burden. Further research on the motivations of medical students in particular is needed.