How ePlatform’s
Shared Collections Work
A ready-made digital library for your whole school.
Choose an eBook Shared Collection, an Audiobook Shared Collection or both. Your annual school subscription includes the titles in your chosen collection, a branded eLibrary for unlimited students and staff, hosting, setup, regular updates and support. Additional charges only apply if your school chooses to purchase titles or extra copies from the ePlatform shop.
What Is an ePlatform Shared Collection?
A Ready-Made Digital Library for Your School
ePlatform’s Shared Collections give your school access to a wide range of leading international and local titles, professionally curated by our team and tailored to schools like yours. Each collection is shaped by age and geographic factors, with separate collections for primary and secondary in each country we serve. By joining a consortium, schools unlock exceptional value, full content control, and access to over a million additional titles, all through your own branded ePlatform portal.
Browse the eBook Collection or the Audiobook Collection.
Who Do Schools Share the Collection With?
Grouped by Region and School Stage
Your school joins a regional group—also called a consortium—of schools serving similar age groups. An Australian primary school shares with other Australian primary schools, while secondary schools join a separate secondary collection. Each school receives its own eLibrary, and the subscription covers unlimited students and staff. As more schools join, the collection gains greater breadth and value for everyone.
Explore Our Shared Collections
eBooks
Give students access to age-appropriate fiction, non-fiction, classics and curriculum-supporting titles, with separate collections for primary and secondary schools. eBooks support classroom learning, independent study and reading for pleasure, while accessibility features help more students read in the way that works for them. Learn more about our eBook Collections.
Audiobooks
Offer age-appropriate fiction and non-fiction across different genres, authors and reading levels. Separate primary and secondary collections support classroom texts, literacy development and reading for pleasure. Audiobooks provide another way into reading for students with dyslexia, low vision or reading difficulties, as well as students developing language and fluency. Learn more about our Audiobook Collections.
Decodable Readers
Support struggling and developing readers with hundreds of fiction and non-fiction decodable books arranged through a clear, levelled phonics sequence. The collection also includes BookLife and Blastoff Levelled Readers, providing flexible resources for early readers, older students requiring structured literacy support and EAL/D (ESOL) learners. Decodable Readers are included with all Shared Collection plans at no additional cost. Learn more about our Decodable Readers.
Wellbeing
Help secondary students explore identity, resilience, self-esteem, anxiety and mental health through carefully selected digital titles. Developed with input from counsellors and wellbeing practitioners, the collection reflects diverse student experiences and gives schools a safe, accessible way to begin important wellbeing conversations in the classroom or independently. Learn more about our Wellness Collections.
How Are Shared Collection Titles Chosen?
Professionally Curated Using School Data and Feedback
Our professional selectors use borrowing data from thousands of school eLibraries to understand which titles appeal to different age groups and regions. They also consider new releases, award winners, curriculum needs and suggestions from member schools. Titles are selected for their value to the wider school community, helping each collection remain relevant, balanced and useful. New titles are added regularly, typically each month.
Your School’s Own Branded eLibrary
Shared Titles, With Control for Your School
Although the titles come from a Shared Collection, the student experience belongs to your school. You can customise the branding, web address and student messages; control which students can access particular titles; apply age restrictions; and disable titles where required. Staff can also manage users and view borrowing and usage reports through the administration area of the portal.
How Shared Collection Borrowing Works
Fair Use Keeps Access Equitable
Shared Collection titles are available to every member school, so Fair Use limits apply to simultaneous loans and the number of loans each school can make each month. These limits are designed to be generous for normal school use while maintaining equitable access across the consortium. We can confirm the applicable limits for your collection before your school subscribes.
Private Collections and Class Sets
Purchase Only the Titles and Copies Your School Needs
Most schools use the Shared Collection as the core of their eLibrary. If you need a title that is not included, additional copies of a popular book or simultaneous access for a class, you can purchase titles through the ePlatform shop. These titles form your school’s Private Collection and appear alongside shared titles. Additional charges only apply when your school chooses to make these purchases.
With you every step of the way
Customising your ePlatform
Your ePlatform can be ready quickly. We can create a branded banner using your school’s logo, colours and website assets, or your team can supply its own graphics. We guide you through the setup, so your school does not need design expertise or a large implementation project to launch a professional-looking eLibrary.
Adding Students & Staff (Authentication)
Give students and staff access using the method that best suits your school. Simple options can be configured without specialist IT support, while integrations such as LDAP, SIP2 and supported LMS or single sign-on methods are also available. Our team will help you choose the most practical approach and guide you through the setup. More information on this here.
Launching ePlatform to Students
We help you turn access into active reading. Schools receive ready-to-use promotional materials including posters, bookmarks, shelf wobblers and digital assets for websites, newsletters and learning platforms. Our team can also share practical launch ideas to help staff introduce ePlatform and encourage students to keep returning to their eLibrary.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Best Value eLending Solution
ePlatform's Shared Collections are carefully curated digital libraries that multiple schools can collaboratively access by joining a consortium. They are designed to provide schools with immediate, cost-effective access to a broad and diverse range of eBooks and Audiobooks, far exceeding what most schools could afford to license individually. These collections are specifically tailored to different geographic regions and age groups (primary and secondary) to ensure the content is relevant and appropriate for your students.
Fair and Equitable Access for All Schools
When a school subscribes to an ePlatform Shared Collection (eBooks or Audiobooks), they gain immediate collective access to a professionally curated collection of digital resources. This subscription model significantly reduces costs for individual schools by eliminating the need to purchase every title separately. Each participating school receives its own branded ePlatform, where students can borrow titles from the shared collection. While the titles are shared among consortium members, ePlatform provides generous loan limits to ensure fair and equitable access for all schools, ensuring a vast collection remains accessible to all students.
ePlatform's Selector Team & Suggestions from Schools
Titles for our Shared Collections are chosen through a multi-faceted approach by our team of professional selectors. This process involves leveraging statistical data from thousands of existing school eLibraries to identify popular and frequently borrowed titles for specific age groups and regions. The curation also includes newly released titles, award winners, and titles that align with curriculum needs. Suggestions and requests from member schools within the consortium are also considered to ensure the collections remain highly relevant and responsive to the community's needs.
Shared Collections are Updated Each Month
ePlatform's Shared Collections are updated regularly to ensure they remain dynamic and current. New eBook, Audiobook, and wellness titles are added on a frequent, typically monthly, basis. This continuous addition of fresh content ensures that students always have access to new and engaging reading material, reflecting current interests, bestsellers, and curriculum requirements. When adding new titles to our shared collections, our team of selectors consults with publishers regarding title availability and considers demand from other schools for the same title.
Private Collections Sit Seamlessly Alongside Shared Collections
Yes, absolutely. While ePlatform's Shared Collections provide an expansive and affordable core library, schools have the complete flexibility to build their own private collections. This is achieved by purchasing exclusive titles from ePlatform's vast catalog of over a million options. These privately owned titles sit seamlessly alongside the shared collection on the school's branded platform, allowing schools to deepen their library for specific curriculum needs, class sets, or unique student interests.
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