What is VitalSource | The My Textbooks Menu Button
VitalSource Technologies is an education technology and digital content company that works with universities, publishers, and resellers to provide students with digital access to course materials. VitalSource is a textbook provider to the CMU Bookstore.
Starting with the Fall 2022 Blackboard course shells, a My Textbooks menu button became a standard button in all course shells. My Textbooks provides students with a personalized list of materials needed for all courses in which they are registered. All book types, regardless of the purchase model (e.g., Inclusive Access, publisher access code, eBook, or physical book), are listed as long as the book being used for the course has been identified and communicated to the CMU Bookstore and the semester is available on the bookstore’s website. Please do not remove this menu button from the course shell, even if your course does not require a textbook, as it provides a vital service to students.
Why My Textbooks?
Textbook information is available via the My Textbooks content area in the Blackboard on the Content tab. Again, course materials displayed here is unique to each user and is based on the course(s) the student is enrolled in. Course materials do not appear on the My Textbooks menu button until 24 hours after a course has been made available to students or a sync is forced by clicking the My Textbooks link. Once a sync is forced, material listings can display anywhere from instantaneous to within an hour.
The My Textbooks menu button streamlines and simplifies the acquisition of course materials for students by providing direct access within their course. Students can purchase the books needed for their courses, opt-out of Inclusive Access, and/or purchase an access code to required software. A “Compare and Purchase” feature allows students to compare the cost of a new or used book from the CMU Bookstore and other various competitors and then to complete that purchase -- all from the My Textbooks menu button within a course.
NOTES:
- If course materials for an upcoming semester are not listed in your Bb course shell on the My Textbook menu button, do not be alarmed. The CMU Bookstore actively works to release course materials for upcoming semesters. Materials will appear as bookstore staff finalize course adoption listings for future semesters. If course materials for a current semester are not appearing, contact the CMU Bookstore.
- The instructor view of the My Textbooks menu button differs slightly from the student view since an instructor does not need to purchase materials.
Inclusive Access eBooks
Students in courses with an eBook provided via the Inclusive Access purchase model have the opportunity opt-out of Inclusive Access and instead obtain the book on their own from the My Textbooks menu button.
If an Inclusive Access eBook (only) is being used in a course the My Textbooks menu button automatically provides the access link to the Inclusive Access eBook. For courses using publisher courseware (e.g., MindTap, Connect, MyLab, etc.) provided via Inclusive Access, the eBook is accessed in the same manner as always – through the publisher’s platform. Students will see the last day to Opt-Out along with an Opt-Out and Read Now buttons as shown in the example below:
NOTE: The instructor's view of an Inclusive Access text differs from the student's view in that faculty do not have the "Read Now' button and, when the book is clicked on, are unable to proceed further. An instructor is not enrolled into the Inclusive Access program and is not paying for access to the book.
The Read Now option provides access to digital content for a two-week complimentary viewing period prior to purchasing. If the eBook is being provided via the Inclusive Access purchase model, student accounts are billed for the cost of the materials directly to their CMU student account by the CMU Bookstore.
The Continue button directs the student to the digital content.
Clicking on the Compare and Purchase button takes the student to available purchase options, including a price comparison between the CMU Bookstore and select competitors.
The Instructor Portal section is an instructor-only area that provides access to analytics on text access and usage for all courses being taught. It also provides access to the instructor's VitalSource Bookshelf, a collection of eBooks the instructor has access to from various publishers.
