Case Study: Improving Library Content Access with Kogan Page Complete

Challenge: Limited Availability and Affordability of Ebooks

Hannu Jokiranta, Information Specialist at Laurea University of Applied Sciences Library (Laurea UAS) in Finland, is responsible for managing the institution’s ebook acquisitions.

He noted that “there is lack of availability of many academic books as ebooks. Even when digital versions were available, licensing terms were restrictive and pricing from third party vendors across the range of publisher titles often exceeded the university’s budget.”

Furthermore, he explains, “ebook licenses that only allowed access for specific students were not suitable at Laurea UAS, as they do not want licenses just for individuals”. These constraints may lead faculty to choose alternative materials.

Solution: Subscribing to Kogan Page Complete

Given the popularity of Kogan Page print books at Laurea UAS, the team explored digital options once the KoganPage+ platform was introduced. The university subscribed to the full Kogan Page Complete package, granting institution-wide access to the complete catalogue of professional books and textbooks.

The move to the platform has begun to reduce the reliance on print copies, with the team anticipating fewer physical orders moving forward. Hannu explains that “the integration was seamless, requiring minimal changes to existing collection management processes”.

Outcome: Increased Flexibility and Early Benefits

Although they have not had KoganPage+ for very long, Hannu noticed some immediate improvements at Laurea UAS:

1. On-demand access: Students could now access Kogan Page titles from any location at any time, improving equity and convenience.
2. Simplified resource management: With automatic access to all new titles, the library no longer needed to manually check for updates. “Key titles will still be ordered in print as needed, but the pressure to monitor individual releases has eased” Hannu explains.
3. Positive (or no) feedback: While no specific feedback had been received from students or faculty, Hannu describes this as “a sign of smooth user experience and accessibility”.

Looking Ahead: Balancing Digital and Print Resources with Budget Constraints

Looking to the future, Hannu emphasizes the “need to balance print and digital resources as online and distance learning continues to grow”. He explains that “digital content is increasingly requested by faculty and students alike, making services like KoganPage+ a valuable part of Laurea’s strategy”.

Hannu continues to have some concerns about sustainability and budgeting, saying that “digital subscriptions do not result in permanent ownership”, but of course print books also wear out and must be replaced. Static acquisition budgets raise concerns about the affordability of shifting funds from print to digital, but Hannu acknowledged the value of the KoganPage+ platform while stressing the need for long-term financial planning.

By using Kogan Page Complete, Laurea University of Applied Sciences is making meaningful strides toward more accessible, flexible and student-friendly academic content delivery, despite ongoing challenges in funding and licensing models.

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