Sage offers a range of eTextbook access models to suit the needs of both institutions and students. Whether the student or the institution pays, you’ll find flexible options that cater to different budgets and requirements. Below are the primary models, with their benefits to help you select the right one for you. If you’d like to learn more about any of these models, Contact your local Sage representative. 

Student Pays 

• Direct from retail eBook vendors
• Academic platforms
• Subscription

Institution Pays

• Single title perpetual access 
• Single title access ‘1:1’
• Campus-Wide Single Title Access 
• Discipline-Based Subscription Collections 
• Sage Catalyst - Premium eTextbook Collection

Read our principles of eTextbook provision.

Student Pays 

Direct from retail eBook vendors

Best for: Students who want to shop around for the best deal when buying their own eBooks outright. 

Value: Students can shop from a variety of smaller, localised vendors, as well as major retail eBook vendors like VitalSource, Amazon Kindle, Google Play, and more, selecting titles at vendor-listed prices, often with discounts. 

How It Works: Students purchase their eBook copy directly, just as they would with a print book. They can also choose a 180-day rental option. 

Academic platforms

Best for: Courses where instructors select the reading materials for students to purchase themselves. 

Value: Platforms like Perusall allow instructors to assign course readings. Students benefit from engaging with peers through built-in social features like collaborative note-sharing and discussions. 

How It Works: Students join their course and purchase assigned textbooks, accessing collaborative tools to enhance their learning experience.

Subscription

Best For: Students who want flexible access to multiple textbooks during their studies. 

Value: Cross-publisher sites such as Perlego provide subscription-based access to a vast library of textbooks from Sage and other publishers. 

How It Works: With options for monthly, termly, or yearly plans, students select what works best for them. They can browse and access any textbook within their subscription period.

Institution Pays

Single title perpetual access 

Best For: Institutions wishing to purchase Sage titles on a one-time perpetual basis for their library

Titles Included: Over 5,000 titles, including Reference, Academic, and Professional books and selected textbooks

Value: 

• Pay on a one-off basis to own titles within your library, with no access expiry date
• Maximum control over title selection: just order when needed

How it works: 

• Purchase your desired titles on a pick-and-choose basis via your chosen vendor platform or marketplace 
• Select your concurrency level of choice, from 1 simultaneous user up to unlimited concurrency, with fixed multipliers 
• Where available, you may wish to enrol titles into a Demand-driven programme
• Vendors: Available via EBSCO/GOBI, Browns, Ebook Central/OASIS/Rialto, Kortext, BibliU, OverDrive and other regional vendor platforms. There is no title cross-over between our perpetual access programmes and Sage Catalyst.

Single title access ‘1:1’

Best For: Institutions seeking to provide individual students with perpetual or time-limited access to specific titles. 

Titles Included: All Sage textbooks are available through this model. 

Value:

• Maximum control over title selection to target spend where it matters most. 
• Students can own their copy, which they can keep throughout their learning journey. 

How It Works:

You can choose one of these options: 

• Upfront Purchase: Titles are purchased based on student numbers, for immediate access. 
• Redemption Model: Institutions are billed retrospectively for only the titles used. 
• Access Codes: For smaller cohorts (under 100), each student uses a unique code to access their title. 
• We can also arrange for the eBook to be integrated into your institution’s VLE, allowing students to download their own copy from there.

Vendors: Available via VitalSource, Kortext, Browns, and BibliU. Tiles can be integrated via VLE.

Campus-Wide Single Title Access 

Best For: Institutions needing provision for large numbers of students with unlimited concurrency to a single title. 

Titles Included: This model offers nearly all Sage textbooks, with the exception of a small list of titles. 

Value:

• Equitable access, enabling every student on campus to use the eBook(s) at any time. 
• Easily discoverable through institutional platforms 
• Cost-effective for broad campus-wide use. 

How It Works:

• Titles are integrated into library catalogues and Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs). 
• Available for 1, 2, or 3-year subscriptions. 

Vendors: Offered through Browns and VitalSource Explore.

Discipline-Based Subscription Collections 

Best For: Institutions wanting curated, subject-specific collections for their libraries. 

Available Collections: 

• Transforming Nursing Practice - c.70 titles
• Little Quick Fix (Study Skills) – 24 titles
• Super Quick Skills (Study Skills) – 26 titles
• Very Short, Fairly Interesting Series – 18 titles
• Student Skills and Wellbeing Collection - 35 titles

Value:

• Provides access to high-demand series, targeting topics where students need specific support  
• Campus-wide unlimited access, 24/7

How It Works:

Collections are available for one-year or multi-year subscriptions. They are integrated into library catalogues, giving all students easy access. 

Vendors: Available via VitalSource Explore,Browns Books ,Kortext, BibliU, EBSCO, and Snapplify.

Sage Catalyst - Premium eTextbook Collection

Best For: Institutions seeking a premium social science eTextbook collection with extensive curriculum coverage and unlimited, concurrent access for all students.

Value:

• Provides access to the most sought-after premium textbooks, with the best value for money per title. 
• Universally accessible, enabling students to access materials anytime, anywhere. 
• Titles are delivered through VitalSource Explore, employing the world’s #1 accessible reader, VitalSource Bookshelf®.

Visit our Sage Catalyst page to find out more about the collection and download the title list.

Join the conversation

Take part in our live webinars or watch our recent recordings to hear from librarians and faculty on how digital textbooks can transform teaching and learning.

Get in touch 

We know that one size doesn’t fit all, which is why we’re always happy to talk to you about your specific requirements to find a solution that suits you. Contact your local Sage representative.