Content Distribution Solutions

Lower costs, increase convenience, and prepare students on Day-One

Build a course materials program that works your way. Supported by our team of customer success and bookstore managers, supply-chain experts, learning scientists, instructional designers, and more, you can meet the needs of the entire campus, save students money, and simplify program and technology management.

Improve affordability, accessibility, engagement and most importantly – provide every student with a learning advantage when you take a digital-first approach.

VitalSource Powers the Higher Education Content Distribution Lifecycle

Discover

VitalSource transforms the course materials process from a cumbersome task into a powerful, intuitive experience. Our Sampling Platform makes the discovery easy and improves communication across campus stakeholders.

Adopt

Looking to simplify the adoption process? Gather adoptions quickly, communicate with instructors, eliminate manual processes and promote course materials affordability across campus—all while promoting your store’s brand with our industry leading adoption management tools.

Source

With the largest title collection in the industry, you’ll have access to an unmatched and continually growing list of digital course materials. Always in stock and available by the first day of class, you never have to worry about shipping, returns or exchanges with digital.

Access

Our technology operates within an institution’s existing digital ecosystem. Students can discover, manage, and purchase content all within the LMS - improving convenience and reducing the need to search and compare prices. Accessible online or 100% offline, you never have to worry about students having access to their content.

Engage

Getting materials into the hands of students is only part of the goal. Leverage our full suite of award-winning technology tools, including Bookshelf and Bookshelf CoachMe® to encourage student engagement and create dynamic and interactive learning experiences. Affordability is essential, but engagement is what drives outcomes.

Analyze

Access to an array of simplified dashboards and reports not only helps monitor and share program performance metrics but equips you with the data necessary to demonstrate impact, communicate successes and engage in a process of continuous improvement.¬

Course materials are an important front door experience for students.

Course materials shape a student’s first impression of academic life and can set the tone for their educational journey. By ensuring easy access, affordability, and the right resources from day one, you impact their success from the very start. The right program, powered by the industry’s most innovative and proven platform makes this possible—connecting colleges and students with a vast library of digital materials, interactive tools, and resources designed to enhance learning outcomes.

Flexible Access

Seamlessly combines well-known affordable access programs (Equitable Access and Inclusive Access) and traditional retail options into one comprehensive program. The most flexible program available, powered by the industry’s most trusted set of tools.

Equitable Access

A course material model giving all students day-one access to all required learning materials for one flat fee, making costs predictable, improving convenience, and expanding access for all students, no matter their major. One program with everything your campus needs, built on the industry’s most dependable, proven platform.

Inclusive Access

A course-by-course delivery model where digital content is automatically delivered to participating students on, or before, the first day of class. All content is discovered, managed, and accessed within the campus learning management system (LMS). The easiest way to grow into the digital future, with the most reliable set of tools.

Virtual Store

A full-service, school-branded online campus store that supports the entire course materials lifecycle, from discovery and adoption to access and engagement. This seamless solution connects students, instructors, and institutions from day one. Students get a personalized, mobile-friendly experience through the LMS or storefront, with early access and flexible purchasing. Institutions retain visibility and oversight while VitalSource manages the day-to-day operations. Trusted, scalable, and built to deliver results.

Bookshelf Explore webpage displayed on a laptop screen

Global Library Solutions

A secure, flexible model for delivering collections or individual titles quickly and easily. Institutions save money, simplify back-end processes, and get up and running fast.

Course Materials Management

One Platform, Flexible Service Options

Self-Management

Ideal for the campus store looking to independently manage all aspects of its course materials program using VitalSource tools with full access to our top-tier Customer Success Team.

Collaborative Management

Ideal for the campus store in need of transitional or team support. The store collaborates with VitalSource adoption and/or access program specialists for assistance managing its course materials program using VitalSource tools.

Virtual Management

Ideal for the campus store seeking a primarily virtual course materials experience. Often referred to as a hybrid model, the campus continues to run the physical store on campus and the course materials experience is powered and managed by VitalSource.

Unlock the VitalSource Advantage

Delivering a Learning Advantage for the modern student calls for a new set of digital-first capabilities. How many of these nine requirements are you delivering?

Privacy & Security

Deter potential threats and effortlessly provide student access without compromising Personally Identifiable Information (PII) with VitalSource’s security and defense strategies. Stringent privacy and security controls offer optimal performance and reliability, proactive vulnerability management, and 24/7 monitoring.

AI, Meet Learning Science

Ensure that you are always compliant, ahead of the standards, and are always ready to navigate the next disruption point thanks to our industry leaning learning science research team and our ahead of market investments.

Global Scalability with Full Integrity

A consistent user experience worldwide with full SOC II compliance, accessibility, and scalability for every customer.

Accessible Convenience

All learners deserve the tools they need to thrive. From content provider to institution to student, it should be easy and convenient to deliver and access the highest quality digital course materials - no special versions required.

Renowned Domain Expertise

We have the largest customer success team in the industry alongside 24/7 support capabilities, the industry's leading learning science research team, and the highest rated eReader. Our operational velocity means you have tools and systems that are built to work and to keep partners on track.

Unifying Experience

A standard, global experience, across publishing partners that's easy for student and institutions alike. Start learning on day-one.

Predictable Affordability

High quality course materials that are available at a price that students can count on and plan for, no surprise costs.

Actionable Data & Insights

Institutions and content providers get comprehensive, near real-time data and insights at the student, book, and course levels, empowering them to optimize strategies, improve learning outcomes, and enhance decision-making.

Reliable Infrastructure

Learners deserve always-on resiliency: best-in-class cloud services and content distribution networks deliver content with full integrity and over 300 global end points for content access and 99.99% uptime.

Trusted Partner of Thousands of Universities Globally

“After implementing EA, it changed the psychological makeup of rush. Those were the first rushes of my life not filled with anxiety.”

- Michael Ramsey, Manager of Retail Technology Buying, Consumer Technology Programs, Cornell University

"VitalSource didn't just help me launch a digital learning platform; they were the catalyst that transformed my vision into reality. Their expertise and support were invaluable on every step of the journey, turning challenges into opportunities and dreams into achievements."

- Terri Mitchell, Director, College Stores, Navarro College

"One of the things that we pride ourselves on is how much library content we're able to help provide to the students this way.

- Aaron Ochoa, Director, UC Davis Stores

"Several faculty have shared that they felt confident about assigning readings on day one and about asking students to interact with materials in the first week of class. That is exactly the behavior that we're hoping to drive with this program because we know that early engagement with materials is a high predictor for success in the course."

- Suzanne Donnelly, Senior Associate Director, Bronco Bookstore, CalPoly Pomona

"Immediate Access isn't just our program; it's driven by the students, for the students."

- Erin Green, Assistant Director, College Stores, Navarro College

"Working with VitalSource makes IA so easy. It's streamlined and becoming more streamlined every semester.

- Kim Yates, Assistant Director, CMU Bookstore

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