Calculating average savings per student, Course Reserves

[Rebecca Metzger]

We are trying to create a data point for our annual Impact Report related to the value of our Course Reserves program. We want to calculate an average savings per student (recognizing that not all course materials are available in Course Reserves and not all students will take advantage of Course Reserves). Has anyone done this before and can you talk us through how you calculated the average? We are fine using a standard like $100 per title (which is our replacement fee).

A lot of schools seem to just promote a total student savings, eg.

"In fiscal year 2024, 328 courses used course reserves, saving students $10,263 in required course materials" (https://www.inside.iastate.edu/article/2024/09/26/materialcost) 

"...the total calculated savings for students during the 2023 fiscal year was approximately $165,000" (https://www.ohio.edu/library/about/news-events/all-news/library-resources-save-students-course-materials-costs) 

BTW, we use Ares as our Course Reserves platform.

Thanks,

Rebecca

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Rebecca Metzger

Interim Deputy University Librarian Associate University Librarian for Learning & Engagement

Library

Office: (805) 893-2674  Email: rmet...@ucsb.edu