From Systems to Students: Simplifying Access to Affordable Course Materials

Course material affordability and access are critical to student success. UNL Libraries has engaged in affordable content efforts since 2017, striving to improve course affordability and access by reducing financial barriers. Despite progress, students still purchase materials that could be provided at lower or no cost through the Libraries, OER, or Inclusive Access programs. To address this, we developed an innovative workflow that integrates Alma, Leganto, and the Rialto marketplace to identify the most affordable course materials. This scalable process enables the efficient identification and delivery of low-cost materials, with a pilot planned for 2025. This initiative represents a major step toward ensuring that all students have equitable access to the resources they need to succeed academically.