• The strategic value of perpetual access in supporting long-term research, institutional memory and collection stability
• How EBSCO enables perpetual access through one-time purchase models, DRM-free e-books and curated magazine archives
• How perpetual access supports sustainable collection development, budget predictability and the evolving needs of library users

Libraries are increasingly prioritizing the development of collections that demonstrate long-term value and sustainability, a central theme of our recent webinar “Future-Proofing Collections: The Strategic Value of Perpetual Access.” Steph Morarty, Director of Sales, Books, and Courtney Peckham, Senior Product Manager, Archives, examined how libraries can move beyond short-term access models to ensure the enduring availability of essential resources for faculty, students and researchers. 

Perpetual access is really a collection strategy and not just a purchasing model. It protects your investment and eliminates the risk of losing critical titles when budgets tighten or subscriptions change.

Perpetual access is vital to a library, and EBSCO eBooks fall in line with that. Faculty, students, and patrons expect long-term and reliable access. 

Moriarty explained that with access to a catalog of more than 2.8 million e-books spanning publication dates from the 19th century to forthcoming releases from EBSCO, libraries are well-positioned to curate comprehensive and relevant collections. EBSCO supports a variety of access models, including DRM-free options for unlimited user access where available, and offers curated collections developed by professional librarians to streamline selection processes.

Accessibility considerations were also underscored, with features such as text-to-speech functionality, adjustable display settings, and transparent indicators of accessibility compliance, including adherence to WCAG 2.2 AA standards. These capabilities enable institutions to meet evolving regulatory requirements while ensuring equitable access for all users.  

Peckham addressed the role of perpetual access in the context of magazine archives, positioning these resources as significant primary source collections.   

Through a one-time purchase model supplemented by ongoing platform support, libraries can secure access to complete historical runs of publications, often spanning more than 150 years. These archives allow students and researchers to engage with content in its original context, analyzing not only textual narratives but also visual elements, advertising, and cultural framing. Such resources are invaluable for interdisciplinary scholarship, supporting areas such as media studies, sociology, environmental studies, and history.