BibliU uses Gardners fulfilment service to enhance accessibility of print books for university students

Learning Enablement technology provider,@BibliUSocial, is set to work with leading book, film and music wholesaler Gardners to enhance the accessibility of print learning materials for university students.

BibliU, who will be using Gardners renowned fulfilment service, will empower universities to provide print textbook options for students alongside BibliU’s Learning Enablement platform, which provides digital textbooks and monographs. The new relationship means Gardners fulfilment services will allow BibliU to supply print-based learning resources to its clients as required. BibliU’s innovative Learning Enablement platform leverages digital content management, automation, and analytics to deliver millions of digital learning resources, from thousands of publishers to students in a way that enables more efficient, effective, and equitable learning. 

The pandemic has accelerated a shift towards digitisation across the higher education sector. However, there still remains a need for print books at universities and ensuring both forms of learning resources are available is crucial in meeting students’ differing learning needs. University budgets have been squeezed in recent times, and such print materials are often allocated from student support funds, which are already limited.

Learning materials remain a significant barrier to accessibility for many in higher education; students are typically expected to fund their own textbooks, which have risen in price by a staggering 1,041% since 1977, and the average student is expected to budget between £450 and £1070 for books and equipment per year.

BibliU’s Learning Enablement platform tackles this issue by modernising the procurement, distribution, and experience of digital textbooks and learning materials in the university market, with its new relationship with Gardners set to further bolster this offering. BibliU’s technology integrates with university libraries to automate content workflows and improve student outcomes by making learning resources more affordable and accessible. E-books, for example, can be provided at a price point that works for publishers, institutions, and students. BibliU currently serves more than 140 universities globally, including 50 in the UK.

Gardners has grown over 35 years to become a leading wholesaler of books, E-books, music and film to retailers and suppliers around the world. Its stock represents the largest range of physical English language media products in Europe, offering around 500,000 titles in stock and more than 2.8 million E-books.

Giovanni Russillo, Director of EMEA Sales at BibliU, commented: “At BibliU, we are driven to create a more efficient and effective learning experience which benefits everyone, from students and academics to institutions and publishers. By working with Gardners, we hope to be able to further improve the accessibility of learning resources for students. No student should find their educational needs are not being met because of their finances or their individual learning requirements.”

Nigel Wyman, Sales & Marketing Director at Gardners said: “We are excited to be able to offer our services to BibliU with their new venture. We look forward to supplying our wide range of products to BibliU and getting educational books into the hand of those who need them.”