The Consortium Advantage: How Shared Collections Save Schools Thousands

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes | Last updated: August 2025

Many schools want to offer a digital library, but building a private collection from scratch can be expensive, time-consuming, and hard to maintain.

This is where a school library consortium can help. It allows schools to share access to a professionally curated eBook and Audiobook collection, without sacrificing control or quality.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how shared collections work on ePlatform, when they make the most sense, and how they help schools save money while giving students better access to the books they need.

Key Takeaways:

• A digital library consortium lets schools share access to a professionally curated eBook or Audiobook collection, without the cost of building a private digital library from scratch.
• Schools retain control over student access, can add their own titles if needed, and benefit from generous fair use policies that ensure equitable access for each member school in the consortium.
• Shared collections are ideal for schools with limited budgets, busy staff, or remote locations, offering instant, 24/7 access to a comprehensive digital library without the overhead.

Table of Contents

• What is a Digital Library Consortium
  
• When to Consider a Shared Collection Consortium
• How ePlatform's Shared Collections Work
• Common Concerns about Shared Collections
• FAQs
• Final Thoughts

What is a Digital Library Consortium

A digital library consortium is a shared model where multiple schools access the same professionally curated eBook collection or Audiobook collection. Instead of each school building and maintaining their own digital library, they join a consortium that gives them immediate access to thousands of high-quality titles.

The benefit? Schools can offer a rich, diverse reading experience to students without the cost or admin burden of managing everything alone.

A consortium-based model like the one used by ePlatform allows each member school to retain control over key settings such as student access, content restrictions, and reading filters. At the same time, shared licensing keeps costs low and collections up to date.

As we explore this model further, you’ll see when shared collections make the most sense, how they work on ePlatform, and how they address common concerns like content control, curriculum-alignment, and compatibility with school systems.

When to Consider a Shared Collection Consortium

Not sure if a shared digital collection is right for your school? Here are a few signs it might be the perfect fit.

Limited School Library Budget

Building a private digital library from scratch is really expensive. A shared collection gives your students access to thousands of titles without the high upfront costs.

For example, a private eBook collection of 2,000+ leading titles could cost over $20,000, while a private Audiobook collection of 1,000+ titles might be worth $40,000. The shared model dramatically reduces this cost, making it possible for schools to provide students with access to eBooks and Audiobooks at a fraction of the price.

Small or Remote School Settings

Smaller schools and those in rural or remote locations often face challenges in accessing physical resources or justifying large content investments. A shared digital library gives these schools instant access to a rich collection of eBooks and audiobooks, without needing to manage the content themselves. It’s also a practical solution for schools with fewer staff or limited IT support. With a shared model, even the smallest school can offer a world-class reading experience.

Support for Diverse Learning Needs

Not all students learn the same way and your school library should reflect that. Digital libraries typically include accessibility and literacy support tools for all eBooks and Audiobooks in the collection that support students with additional learning needs. This ensures every student has the chance to read in a way that works for them. It’s a powerful way to make literacy more inclusive across your entire school.

Every eBook on ePlatform features the Settings Wizard and Immersive Reader, allowing students to customise display settings, enable dyslexia-friendly settings, line focus for ADHD, or translation into 150+ languages. On the other hand, ePlatform's Audiobooks are an excellent resource for reluctant readers, allowing students to listen to professional narration and stay engaged with stories even if they find traditional reading difficult.

Access to Curriculum eBooks and Audiobooks

If your current collection doesn’t fully support your curriculum, or you’re constantly sourcing supplementary resources, a shared collection can help fill the gap. Titles are professionally selected and regularly updated to align with local curriculum needs and student age groups. This saves staff time while ensuring students always have access to relevant, high-quality content. Schools also have the added flexibility of Private Collections to purchase specific titles or class sets that directly support classroom needs or school-wide reading goals.

Compatibility with Exisitng School Systems

Worried about adding another platform that complicates your school's tech stack? Shared collections are designed to integrate seamlessly with exisitng school systems, including Single Sign-On (SSO) platforms and Library Management Systems (LMS). This makes it easier for students to log in, and simpler for staff to manage. There’s no need to overhaul your existing setup just to get started.

Time-Poor Librarians and Staff

If your library or school staff are already stretched thin, managing a private digital collection can feel overwhelming. With a shared collection, the content is curated for you, updated monthly, and ready to use from day one. Admin controls are simple to manage, and technical support is available when needed. That means less time spent maintaining your library, and more time focused on helping students engage with it.

How ePlatform's Shared Collections Work

So, how does a shared collection actually work in practice?

At its core, the Shared Collection model allows schools to access a curated library of thousands of eBooks and Audiobooks through shared licensing. Each participating school has its own branded portal, but the collection itself is managed and maintained centrally. This reduces cost and admin for every member school.

Let’s break down the key parts of how ePlatform's Shared Collections works:

How ePlatform Shared Collections Are Set Up

ePlatform’s Shared Collections are grouped by region and school level, such as Australian primary schools or UK secondary schools. Each school that joins is matched with the appropriate collection, ensuring the content is relevant to your curriculum and student age group. These collections are managed centrally by ePlatform, so schools don’t need to curate or maintain them. This setup makes it easy to get started while ensuring content remains relevant to your student cohort.

Content Coverage and Monthly Additions

Titles in each Shared Collection are selected by ePlatform’s in-house selector team, who specialise in education and library collection development. They choose content based on school feedback, title requests, and data showing what students in each region are reading most. The team also monitors newly released and trending titles to ensure the collection stays fresh and engaging. Every month, the collection is updated with new eBooks and Audiobooks from leading local and internation publishers and authors to keep students coming back to discover more.

When to Choose a Shared vs Private Collection

Shared Collections are ideal for schools that want broad access to high-quality content without the cost or workload of building a private collection. However, schools that require specific titles, such as set texts or local curriculum resources, can also purchase Private Collections to sit seamlessly alongside the shared collection. This hybrid model gives schools the flexibility to cover both general reading and specific teaching needs. It’s a scalable approach that can grow and adapt with your school over time.

Ensuring Fair Use and Equitable Access

All schools in the Shared Collection follow the same borrowing rules, with generous loan limits designed to ensure equitable access for every school and student. Fair use policies helps prevent high-demand titles from being overused by any single school, making sure content remains available across the consortium. This approach protects the shared nature of the collection while still giving students the freedom to borrow and explore independently. It's a balanced model that works well at scale without restricting individual access.

Customisation Options for Each School

Even within a shared model, each school retains full control over how the platform is used by their students. Administrators can restrict content by year level, subject area, or even hide specific titles altogether. Schools can also apply their own branding like school logo and colour theme, assign books to students or classes, and set up access rules to suit school policies. This level of customisation allows every school to shape the platform to meet their specific needs.

Common Concerns about Shared Collections

Even though the shared model has clear advantages, it’s natural to have questions. Schools often want to know how much control they’ll retain, whether the content is relevant enough, or how access is managed across multiple schools. Below, we’ve outlined the most common concerns we hear and how ePlatform addresses each one through thoughtful design, content strategy, and school-level flexibility.

FAQs

What is a digital library consortium?

A digital library consortium is a shared model where multiple schools access the same professionally curated eBook and Audiobook collection. Instead of building their own libraries indiviudally, schools join a group that shares resources and spreads the cost.

What are ePlatform's Shared Collections?

ePlatform's Shared Collections are region-based collections of eBooks and Audiobooks built for specific school levels (primary or secondary). Each school gets its own portal, but the content is centrally managed and updated each month to stay relevant.

How is content chosen for ePlatform's Shared Collections?

ePlatform's selector team curates eBook and Audiobook collections using school feedback, title requests, and data showing what students in each region are reading most. The selector team also monitors newly released titles to ensure the collection stays fresh and engaging. Collections are updated every month.

Can schools still get titles that aren’t in the Shared Collection?

Schools can build a Private Collection to sit alongside their Shared Collection by purchasing specific titles from the ePlatform Shop. Schools can also request new titles to be considered for future additions to the Shared Collection.

Do schools lose control in a Shared Collection?

Each school retains full control over their ePlatform, even in a Shared Collection model. Administrators and staff can restrict content by year-level or age, and apply school branding like the logo and colour theme to tailor the experience to their policies and needs.

Final Thoughts

Shared Collections offer a smarter way for schools to provide students with a rich and diverse digital library. They reduce cost, simplify management, and give every student access to high-quality content.

With monthly updates, flexible customisation, and the option to add private titles, schools get the best of both worlds. It’s a practical, scalable model that supports student needs while giving staff more time to focus on what matters.